It is astonishing to learn that in the UK, in the 21st century, there is an estimated 1.2 million people still at risk of suffering permanent hearing damage because of the continued existence of excessive levels of noise within the workplace. Industrial deafness claim cases are repeatedly brought to court, which graphically describe the excessive levels of noise that workers in various different industries have endured because of a lack of employer responsibility to provide the required health and safety risk assessments, awareness training and adequate ear protection.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) published the necessary requirements in the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005, aimed to inform both employer and employee. However, it is often the latter who may first have to take action to deal with a potential excessive noise risk to prevent noise induced hearing loss within the working environment.

By law, employees are entitled to be provided with hearing loss information, training and proper hearing protection by their employers if workplace noise levels consistently reach 80dB. The requirement for hearing protection is compulsory if noise levels consistently reach 85dB within the working area. Accurate sound level monitoring should be implemented whenever a risk of an excessive level of dB is suspected.

While some modern machinery may have the capability for sound dampening, it is seldom sufficient and should not be relied upon to give the necessary protection provided by wearing ear defenders. Earplugs, earmuffs or similar hearing protectors should always be continually worn in the vicinity of working machinery, or manually operated industrial tools, and not be removed temporarily for any reason. They should be checked before wearing for any damage that might impede full protection and replaced immediately.

If working within extremely close range of an excessive noise source is unavoidable, positioning the ears away as much as possible from the direct noise path to avoid the worst of high piercing frequencies and leaving the highest volume areas of workplace as soon as possible is strongly advised.