Toolbox Talk: Ear Bud Dangers
An 18-year experienced grade checker was working alongside a D-5 wide-track bulldozer operator with 25 years on the job. The operator had made one trip down the grade and was coming back to make another pass. While in reverse, the operator was correctly watching in his mirror.
Meanwhile, the grade checker had gotten down on one knee to check the elevation. The operator lost track of the grade checker and stopped his bulldozer so he could turn and find him, but it was too late. The grade checker, who had been working at the back right side of the bulldozer next to the fully functioning backup alarm, was pinned under the track of the dozer.
Fortunately, the grade checker was working on soft sand and only suffered a cracked pelvis and had to have both hips replaced. Any other surface would have resulted in a much more serious—or even fatal—injury. The biggest contributing factor to this incident was that the grade checker was listening to his favorite music at full volume on his MP3 player through his earbuds. He never even heard the backup alarm.
Consider This:
• OSHA says portable music devices such as MP3 players at 50% to 75% rated output generate sound levels above the OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL), which is 90 dBA.
• Earbuds or headphones distract from your situational awareness—what you take in from your surroundings.
• Earbuds may prevent you from hearing audible warnings, such as equipment backup alarms, evacuation sirens, and shouts from coworkers.
• Earbuds generally interfere with job site communication. It is difficult to give and receive effective directions or get someone’s attention when earbuds are worn.
• How many times have you had to remove earbuds or headphones when you were out cutting grass, skiing, working out, etc. just to hear someone who wanted to talk to you?
