All Ears to Noise Issue: New PPE Regulation on Hearing Protection Devices

With an update to the EU Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Regulation, it seems the union is all ears to one of the growing issues in the workplace, noise-induced hearing loss. The new regulation identifies noise from industrial operations as a significant health risk, declaring a category change for hearing protection.

Raising the volume on hearing protection

The new PPE regulation maintains the previous directive’s category levels: simple, intermediate and complex. But it now categorises PPE based on the level of risk rather than the equipment. Hearing protection devices were previously in category II or intermediate, along with hi-vis clothing and safety protective eyewear. Hearing protection devices have now moved up to category III or complex class. This category includes equipment that protects workers against serious risks, such as falls from heights and contact with hazardous substances.

Promoting shared responsibility

The change in the category doesn’t only impact the manufacturers of hearing protection equipment; it applies to the entire supply chain, including distributors and resellers. All hearing protection providers must take necessary measures to ensure that their PPE for hearing meet the latest standards.

For fit-out and refurbishment companies, the new regulation means they need to make sure they are procuring the right equipment for the hearing protection of their workforce. The category change should also prompt construction companies to look for the training support they need to ensure workers are properly protected in noisy environments.

Making the voice of safety heard

The new regulation is a good starting point to establish a workplace culture that understands the value of hearing. In industrial and construction operations, workers are often too focused on the task at hand and may not realise that exposure to a single loud noise can cause irreversible hearing damage. It’s also common to see workers remove their earplugs or ear defenders to talk to colleagues as their need to communicate, especially in noisy environments, trumps their need for hearing protection. To ensure your workforce’s commitment to hearing safety, you must help them see its importance and impact on their everyday work.

You can utilise educational tools to demonstrate the symptoms of hearing loss or tinnitus. You can conduct sound exposure monitoring to gauge the actual level of noise your workers deal with daily. The use of fit-testing is also beneficial as earplugs and ear defenders become irrelevant if the users can’t fit them correctly. When they are not comfortable with the fit, workers tend to remove their PPE more frequently than they should.

The new PPE regulation was adopted in 2016 and then implemented in 2018. There was a transition period of one year (April 2018 to April 2019) where both the old directive and new regulation were applicable. PPE designed and manufactured according to the previous directive were still on the market until 21st April 2019. After that date, all PPE must be certified in accordance with the new regulation.

Ensure for 2020 that every PPE for hearing protection you purchase complies with the new PPE regulation. Share the responsibility of keeping a safe working environment by placing importance on employee training and better hearing protection products.

Want to learn more about choosing the right hearing protection for your team? Give us a call today on 020 8660 9119 and speak to one of our knowledgeable sales team staff.

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