Holy men who met their unholy ends
And the noisiest job in the world? That title belongs to those who work as aircraft maintenance personnel, baggage handlers, and airline ground control. Those brightly colored ear muffs help dull the 140+ dB produced by the enormous jet engines of commercial airliners.
Source: WHO
Formula One drivers in the cockpit are seated right in front of the engine and have to deal with noise levels reaching up to 135 dB. NASCAR drivers face similar engine roar.
Believe it or not, riding a motorcycle at 80 kph (50 mph) exposes the driver's ears to up to 90 dB of noise under the helmet.
The civilized and dignified world of classical music is not without its dangers. Studies have shown that classical musicians are exposed to noise levels during performances and rehearsals of up to 90 dB, more so when enclosed in an orchestra pit. By the way, the humble flute is the loudest classical instrument.
All that loud machinery, tractors, combines, diggers, and rotary cutters can generate a din of over 100 dB.
Some of music's most famous rock stars suffer hearing loss as a result of their loud playing. Guitarist Pete Townshend of The Who (pictured) is famously near-deaf and suffering from tinnitus after decades of audio abuse. Standing next to a speaker or monitor during a noisy gig without ear protection is heavy metal personified.
Construction sites are some of the noisiest and most hazardous places to work. All that banging, hammering, drilling, and heavy machinery backing up and down. And the loudest tool of all? Meet the hammer drill, which can easily deconstruct the eardrum with its near 120 dB output. It's why ear protection is mandatory on all building sites.
The constant clink, chink, rattle, and hum of glass against glass can reach dangerously high levels in a bottle plant, up to 88 dB in some instances. Safe exposure without earplugs is about four hours, only half the working day.
There was a time when lawnmowers were pushed by hand. Slower yes, but quieter and cleaner. Today, a motorized lawnmower used by a professional grounds person can generate 107 dB of noise. Ears can only stand about four minutes of that before the damage starts to kick in.
As well as all the additional protective measures dentists have to take in order to carry out dental procedures, they have to contend with noise of up to 90 dB. This is due to the screeching and whistling of drills and other devices, which can raise noise levels considerably.
A carpenter's tool kit often includes a nail gun: a very versatile piece of equipment, except these things can blast out a deafening crack up to 130 dB in strength!
Chainsaws used by lumberjacks run at an ear-splitting 120 dB.
And that's about the same level of sound DJs spin out all night. No wonder everybody's ears are ringing when the party ends.
Railway construction and maintenance workers are routinely exposed to noise levels of 75–90 dB, with peak exposures of 130–140 dB when trains pass by.
Truck drivers can experience loud noise of up to 25 dB due to their vehicle's engine parts running. Volume can be accentuated by bad roads and outside traffic in congested areas.
Trains make an awful din as they enter and leave subway stations. And how about that teeth-clenching screech as they round a bend? Yet some conductors are still prepared to sit at the controls with the car window open. That's 100 dB of noise rushing into the cab!
The average garbage truck causes anywhere between 80 and 100 decibels of noise as it backs up, hoist bins, and drops them down again with a thud. Doesn't smell too good, either!
One of the most dangerous jobs in the world is also one of the noisiest. The clamor of sirens, fire alarms, and fire pumps can reach up to 90 dB.
Did you know that metal working and smithing was actually the world's first loud job on record? Nothing much has changed. The persistent thudding and clanging of metal on metal is by definition a noisy combination, with up to 100 dB recorded in some instances.
Fuel-powered leaf blowers are the scourge of quiet, residential neighborhoods. At full power, they can create a stream of air exceeding 321 km/h (200 mph) and produce noise levels as high as an ear-piercing 112 dB. And many operators are seen using them without ear protection. What ever happened to the broom and rake?
Fuel-powered industrial lawn and hedge strimmers can generate up to 97 dB of noise. They also pollute the air.
The supercharged roar of a F-14 Tomcat fighter jet as it shoots off a carrier deck is equal to around 135 dB. The guys facing the afterburner belong to the catapult and arresting crews.
Emergency first responders are subject to all sorts of frightening and dangerous situations. But they're also vulnerable to a far more insidious threat: an ambulance siren at close range is 120 dB, which is loud enough to feel ear pain instantly.
If you've ever been in a classroom full of talkative youngsters, you'll know how noisy it get can. In fact, 30 kids in one room can raise the volume up to 85 dB! Continued and prolonged exposure at this level can even cause damage to the eardrum.
Ear protection is, of course, obligatory for pilots. They also communicate through earphones. But without them, the safe exposure time to 97 dB is just 30 minutes.
Similarly, miners using hammer drills face constant workplace noise, though underground it's far more confined and directional.
A gunshot crack is loud and frightening, so imagine working near firearms all day. That's what shooting range marshals do, and regularly expose themselves to noise levels of up to 138 dB. No wonder their ear protectors are custom-made and heavy-duty.
Next time you're out clubbing, spare a thought for the bar staff who work long shifts pouring drinks while being subjected to noise levels in excess of 115 dB.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the highest permissible level of noise exposure in the workplace is 85 decibels (dB) up to a maximum of eight hours per day. But there are a wide variety of jobs that place employees in a much noisier environment for far longer. And while ear protection is mandatory in the majority of situations, not everyone is obliged to take care of their hearing, nor do they perhaps realize just how noisy their place of work is.
Click through the following gallery and take a look at some of the noisiest jobs in the world, and find out which is the most high-volume profession on the planet.
These are the noisiest jobs in the world
What careers involve working in noisy environments?
LIFESTYLE Work
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the highest permissible level of noise exposure in the workplace is 85 decibels (dB) up to a maximum of eight hours per day. But there are a wide variety of jobs that place employees in a much noisier environment for far longer. And while ear protection is mandatory in the majority of situations, not everyone is obliged to take care of their hearing, nor do they perhaps realize just how noisy their place of work is.
Click through the following gallery and take a look at some of the noisiest jobs in the world, and find out which is the most high-volume profession on the planet.