Recent news from the Farmers Guardian online journal tells of Fendts’ recent launch of the new 700 series Vario SCR tractor which boasts an in-cab noise level of just 68dBA. Could this be a sign that trends are changing in the agri-machinery industry? The focus seems to have shifted more towards passenger comfort and safety.
It’s a proven fact that prolonged exposure to tractor noise can result in permanent hearing loss. A U.S. Health Service Study found that farmers show a higher incidence of hearing loss than people in other professions. A farmer working inside a sound-insulated tractor cab is normally exposed to about 85 decibels. At this level, there is little threat of hearing damage to most people. In older, uninsulated tractors, the noise level could exceed 100 decibels, and cause hearing loss in less than eight hours of exposure!