EAR PROTECTION

Introduction

The following information tells you about;

•    Your legal duties on providing ear protection;

•    The types of ear protection available;

•    giving proper instruction and training in how to use ear protection correctly;

•    ensuring ear protection is worn properly and maintained correctly.

You have a legal duty, under the Noise at Work Regulations 1989 (the Noise Regulations), to reduce the risk of damage to your employees' hearing.

All participants at SCTA events are advised to read the relevant passage in the General and Technical Rules.

Controlling noise at source is usually the most cost-effective means of reducing exposure. When ear protection is used, it needs to be effective!

You are advised to give HSE's pocket card 'Protect your hearing!' to your employees to remind them to wear their ear protection.

Ear Protection and the Noise Regulations

You have to:

•    tell your employees about the risk of damage to their hearing from exposure to loud noise;

•    provide your employees with ear protection if they ask for it when their daily personal noise exposure at work (for an 8-hour working day) exceeds 85 dB(A) but is less than 90 dB(A);

•    provide your employees with ear protection and ensure they use it properly when their daily personal noise exposure exceeds 90 dB (A), or when they are exposed to very loud impulsive noise, for example, from explosions or when using cartridge tools or drop hammers;

•    mark Ear Protection Zones with the signs showing that ear protection must be worn where daily personal noise exposures have been assessed as exceeding 90 dB(A);

•    provide your employees with training and information on the use and care of ear protection;

Selecting ear protection

The main types of ear protection are:

•    “Earmuffs” “Ear Defenders”, which completely cover the ear;

•    “Earplugs”, which are inserted into the ear canal;

•    “Semi-inserts” (also called 'canal caps'), which cover the entrance to the ear canal. The ear protection you select will need to:

•    reduce employees' daily personal noise exposure to below 90 dB (A). Provide the most appropriate ear protection related to the level and nature of the noise. Use the results from your noise assessment, as required by the Noise Regulations and the information from ear protection suppliers to help make your choice. If necessary, contact your supplier for more information;

•    be suitable for the employees' working environment - consider comfort and hygiene;

•    be compatible with other protective equipment used by the employee (e.g. hard hats, dust masks and eye protection).

Wherever possible, provide your employees with a suitable range of effective ear protection so they can choose the one that suits them best. Some employees may have a preference for a particular type, or may not be able to use some types of ear protection because of ear infections.

Instruction and Training:

Tell employees

•    The likely noise exposure and risk to hearing the noise creates;

•    Why ear protection has been issued;

•    Who is responsible for the issue of ear protection?

•    The employee's duties under the Noise Regulations - including their duty to

•    wear and look after any ear protection when you provide it;

•    Why it is important to wear ear protection at all times in a noise environment - removing it only for a few minutes will reduce the effective protection to the wearer considerably;

•    How to wear their ear protection at the same time as other protective equipment;

•    How factors such as long hair, spectacles, earrings, hats or leads from personal stereos can reduce the effectiveness of their ear protection;

Avoid trapping long hair, safety glasses or earrings between the earmuff seal and the head.

Tell employees:

•    Where to use ear protection - Include information about Ear Protection Zones;

•    How to care for and check their ear protection daily - show them ear protection that is clean and in good condition;

•    How to store their ear protection correctly;

•    How to report and obtain replacements if their ear protection is damaged or lost. An adequate supply of replacement earplugs should always be available.

•    Safety and employee representatives may play a useful role in instruction and training.

•    The correct and incorrect fitting of earplugs. Maintenance Ensure that ear protection works effectively and check that:

•    Its overall condition is still good and it is clean;

•    Earmuff seals are undamaged;

•    The tension of headbands is not reduced;

•    There are no unofficial modifications;

•    Compressible earplugs are soft, pliable and clean. Supervision

People may be reluctant to use ear protection, so you need to ensure employees use it. You may want to:

•    put someone in authority in overall charge of issuing ear protection and checking that it is used properly;

•    Make sure replacement ear protection is readily available;

•    incorporate wearing ear protection in the company safety policy in consultation with workers and their safety and employee representatives;

•    carry out spot checks to see that the rules are being followed and that ear protection is being used properly. Where an employee is not wearing ear protection properly you should ask them why, and either sort the problem out at the time or consider giving them a verbal warning and recording it. If employees persistently fail to use protectors properly you should follow your normal company disciplinary procedures;

•    ensure that all managers and supervisors set a good example and wear ear protection at all times when in Ear Protection Zone.

Further reading

Reducing noise at work. Guidance on the Noise at Work Regulations 1989

L108 HSE Books 1998 ISBN 0717615111 (Part 6 deals with the 'Selection and use of personal ear protection - Advice for employers').

Introducing the Noise at Work Regulations: a brief guide to the requirements controlling noise at work INDG75 (rev) HSE Books 1989

(Available free for single copies or in priced packs on ISBN 0717609618)

Noise at work - a guide for employees INDG99(rev) HSE Books 1991 (Available free for single copies or in priced packs on ISBN 0717609626)

Protect your hearing! (Pocket card) INDG299 HSE Books 1999 (Available free for single copies or as part of a pack with leaflets and posters on ISBN 0771624846)

Wear ear protection properly (Poster) Misc185 HSE Books 1999 (Available free for single copies or as part of a pack with leaflets and posters on ISBN 0717624846)

While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the references listed in this publication, their future availability cannot be guaranteed.

Further information

HSE priced and free publications are available by mail order from HSE Books, PO Box 1999, Sudbury, Suffolk CO102WA. Tel: 01787 881165; Fax: 01787 313995.

HSE priced publications are also available from good booksellers.

For other enquiries ring HSE's Infoline Tel: 08701 545500 or write to HSE Information Services, Caerphilly Park, Caerphilly CF83 3GG.

HSE home page on the World Wide Web: http://www.hse.qov.uk/hsehome.htm

This leaflet contains notes on good practice which are not compulsory but which you may find helpful in considering what you need to do.

This leaflet is available in priced packs of 5 from HSE Books along with 30 pocket cards (INDG299) and 5 posters (MISC185) on ISBN 0717624846. Single free copies are also available from HSE Books.

The SCTA acknowledge the assistance of the Health and Safety Executive in the production of this document.