
![]() |
Mark Sennett
Managing Editor |
![]() |
Kelly Rose
Editor |
Home> | Industry Update | >Company News | >Sound solution |
Home> | PPE | >Ear Protection | >Sound solution |
Home> | Managing Health & Safety | >Noise Monitoring | >Sound solution |
Sound solution
14 October 2024
Noise induced hearing loss is permanent, but it can be prevented. Stuart Marshall provides advice on how to ensure hearing protection is fit for purpose.

NOISE INDUCED hearing loss is the culprit for the highest number of civil claims, accounting for about 75% of all occupational disease claims1.
Many well-intentioned safety managers follow best practice and industry guidance for administering and evaluating hearing protection but often find, when workers’ hearing is monitored it documents progressive hearing loss rather than prevention. Although, noise-induced hearing loss is permanent it is 100 per cent preventable
Over time, working in an environment where there is daily exposure to sound levels above the action level of 80 dB can damage a person’s hearing and severely affect their life and wellbeing.
The UK regulates two action levels through the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005:
- The lower exposure action levels of 80dB (A) for daily or weekly exposure, or a peak sound pressure of 135 dB (C).
- The upper exposure action levels of 85 dB (A) for daily or weekly exposure, or a peak sound pressure of 137 dB (C).
This means employers must make efforts to reduce noise levels in the workplace to below these values by designing-out noise completely, buying quieter equipment or reducing its use, or differently organising workplaces. If circumstances prevent this or is still being worked towards as part of a Programme of Noise Management and Control, then action must be taken to protect workers’ hearing. If noise levels exceed the lower exposure level, then hearing protection must be provided if employees request it. If noise surpasses the upper action level, then hearing protection must be provided and worn by employees.
The (A) and (C) denotations refer to noise frequency weightings. Simply put, (A) weighting covers the full frequency spectrum and adjusts sound pressure level readings to reflect the sensitivity of the human ear and (C) weighting looks at the effect of low-frequency sounds commonly heard when instantaneous but loud noises are present, from an explosive, for example.
Enforcement
This year, workplace noise and hearing protection have been under particular scrutiny from Health and Safety (HSE) inspectors, with the initial focus concerned with ensuring hearing protection given to employees is suitable and is providing the protection it needs to. The inspectors’ experience has shown that hearing protection is often not being worn when it needs to be and this has resulted in an increase in noise-related enforcement notices.
While PPE should always be the last line of defence against workplace hazards, it is essential that, where hearing protection is required, it is fit for purpose and properly maintained.
The protection must be suitable for the environment and task involved and also compatible with any other PPE the worker needs to wear. Uncomfortable or imposing hearing protectors can result in employees removing their PPE for relief or to hear colleagues, which results in an increased risk of damaging hearing.
To assess the adequacy of hearing protection, the HSE uses the 'CUFF' method
C = Condition: is the hearing protection in good condition?
U = Use: are workers using the hearing protection all the times they should be?
F = Fit: does the hearing protection fit the wearer?
F = Fit for purpose: have you selected hearing protection that gives the right level of noise reduction?
Safety managers can forgivably assume that using hearing protectors is intuitive, simply wearing the correct PPE should offer vital protection against noise. In some cases, protectors are handed out and little training is provided, with the hope that employees will read the instruction manual and know to check the fit every time.
To ensure hearing protection is fit for purpose, businesses must first calculate the level of protection required. This involves measuring noise exposure levels in the workplace and choosing hearing protection devices (HPDs) with the right attenuation to reduce the noise to safe levels.
The dangers of over-protection
And over-protection can be as hazardous as under-protection. Reducing the noise too much can lead to a lack of situational awareness, which can cause workers to not hear warning signals or alarms. Yet very few employers check audibility. Anecdotally, excessive hearing protection is said to have contributed to fatal accidents. It can also mean that workers have to regularly remove their hearing protection to communicate, thereby risking damaging their hearing anyway.
Selection of hearing protection devices (HPDs)
Selecting the correct type of hearing protection is essential for comprehensive safeguarding against the dangers of noise. Earplugs are a relatively inexpensive and effective method of protecting workers’ ears when used correctly and are best for short-term use and blocking out moderate to high noise levels. However, acoustic testing proves that an earplug that is not inserted correctly and does not seal the ear canal often provides little to no protection, despite appearing to do so when visually inspected.
Ear defenders are an alternative that offer peace of mind for safety managers as they fit over and surround the ears creating an acoustic seal. The larger size of ear defenders allows their use to be observed from farther away.
Hearing protection fit testing
The Single Number Rating (SNR) estimates the level of protection an HPD is capable of delivering in idealised laboratory conditions when it is properly fit. The likelihood of these laboratory conditions being replicated in the real world of industrial environments is slim, and exposed workers sometimes only obtain a fraction of the rating number. Generally, this can be due to improper usage, incompatible PPE or poor fit. For example, it has been shown that large glasses and goggles could reduce protection by 10dB and ear muffs worn over clothing achieves an average of no more than 21dB.
Instead of relying on the laboratory estimates of the SNR, employers can measure each worker’s protection level through fit-testing, as a one-size-fits-all approach does not guarantee effectiveness. Ear-fit testing is the best way to ensure hearing protection does its job as well as it should for each individual worker. Fit testing highlights the actual protection achieved by an HPD fitted by the user in a workplace setting. It’s also a great way to engage workers, address issues of comfort or fit, and can also help identify training needs.
The value of fit testing is immediate, as instant refitting and instruction can be performed to ensure the worker is receiving the protection they need. In the example of ear plug fit-testing, if a worker obtains a low Personal Attenuation Rating (poor fit), then a different earplug can be selected to more closely match the user’s ear canal anatomy, such as a smaller unit or a foam one to better fit the contours of the ear canal.
Keeping up to date on changes to product standards
To ensure continued compliance and safety, businesses should make sure they keep up to date on the latest standards in hearing protection. The updated standard BS EN 352 set higher minimum noise reduction levels, which may require the use of low-attenuation, custom-moulded earplugs or level-dependent HPDs. As category 3 PPE, HPDs need to be retested every five years, and their protection levels may change, so regular checks are important.
Education
Studies indicate that employees who have received training in large groups struggle to recall the basic learnings of correct hearing protection usage. But repeated studies show that if that same training is delivered individually, one-on-one or in small groups, the worker’s recall of the content skyrockets, and the worker is significantly more likely to obtain higher levels of protection.
The effectiveness of noise protection programmes increases significantly when employees become personally committed to protecting themselves from noise at work and elsewhere.
Technological advances
It’s also useful to stay informed on technological advances. Recently, hearing protection devices have been developed to provide workers with real-time feedback through noise monitoring to warn the wearer when exposure levels are exceeded. This allows employees to either move further from the noise source or add additional hearing protection measures. Understanding the harm that noise can cause at both an employee and a managerial level cultivates an environment that is dedicated to reducing hearing loss through best practice.
As one-to-one training is labour intensive and time consuming, it is recommended that initial and annual training should be conducted in this way, with supplementary refresher training undertaken in groups throughout the year, where necessary.
Innovations such as safety-certified earplugs with audio input offer new ways to provide effective protection and remain compliant, without sacrificing communication.
Expert advice from Arco
Arco offers joined-up safety solutions to help businesses safeguard their employees from the long-term impacts of noise exposure, and prepare for HSE inspections.
Our website offers a wealth of resources and expert advice, covering noise hazards, managing noise risks, and achieving optimal hearing protection levels. We also have a toolbox talk and posters to help everyone understand why wearing hearing protection is so important and how to care for and wear it properly.
Arco also offers a wide range of HPDs and noise meter products, as well as services such as noise surveys, exposure assessments, occupational health surveillance, and ear fit testing.
Consult our expert advice to learn how you and your colleagues can protect your hearing and avoid becoming another statistic.
References
1 https://www.hse.gov.uk/food/noise.htm.
Stuart Marshall is technical sales specialist (hearing protection) at Arco. For more information, visit www.arco.co.uk/expert-advice/noise
- Glove standards
- Ethical status retained
- Arco girls bare all for charity
- Neoprene range
- Flexible solutions for respiratory protection from ARCO
- Weather the storm with Arco
- Cut with care this Christmas
- Arco becomes Core Funder to National Emergencies Trust with £250,000 donation
- Call to businesses on modern day slavery: Become part of the cure and not the problem
- Get parking perfect for spring