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Click on the links above to choose risk matrix for hearing protection
Directive 2003/10/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of
6 February 2003 on the minimum health and safety requirements regarding
exposure of workers to the risks arising from physical agents (noise)
(Seventeenth individual Directive within the meaning of Article 16(1) of
Directive 89/391/EEC)
Article 3
2. When applying the exposure limit values, the determination of the worker’s effective
exposure shall take account of the attenuation provided by the individual hearing
protectors worn by the worker. The exposure action values shall not take account of
the effect of any such protectors.
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What effect one ascribes to hearing protection, will depend on several factors that will be of
technical, professional and political nature. The assessment will also be different according to
where in the risk management process the assessment is done.
For some hearing protectors (muffs or plugs) a muffling effect of 12 dB is assumed and for double
hearing protection (muffs and plugs) a muffling of 18 dB. Is the noise situation dominated by high
frequency, higher values may be used. A condition is that the hearing protection has a SNR value
given by the producer of respectively 30 dB for muffs and 35 dB for plugs. Shape of the head,
side-bar of spectacles and growth of the hair etc. will possibly reduce the effect of the hearing
protection considerably due to missing tightfitting effect. These values are recommended to be
used as a basis unless a detailed assessment is made where type of ear muffs, adjustment and
actual noise picture are assessed.
Hearing protection shall always be used during the whole stay in all areas where noise levels
above 80 dB(A) occur. These areas shall be marked as noise zones with obligatory use of
hearing protection.
At stays more than 10 minutes in areas with a noise level above 95 dB(A) both ear muffs and
plugs must be used at the same time to avoid hearing damage. These areas shall be specially
marked as noise zones with obligatory use of double hearing protection.
Ear plugs
Ear plugs may be used as hearing protection alone or in combination with ear muffs. They must
be approved and CE marked in accordance with EN 352 and have a muffling level of minimum
35 dB (SNR) for ear plugs to be used once and 23 dB (SNR) for individual fitted (form moulded)
ear plugs. (SNR = Single Number Rating. That is total measure for the muffling level.)
Ear plugs for use once must only be used once and thrown away after use.
Individual fitted (form moulded) ear plugs are to be cleaned daily.
Individual fitted (form moulded) ear plugs are to be changed minimum every 3rd year.
Ear muffs
Ear muffs must be approved and CE marked in accordance with EN 352 and have a muffling level
of minimum 30 dB (SNR).
When using helmet and hearing protection at the same time, the combination must be approved
for head sizes 54 - 62.
When the ear muffs fitted on the helmet are not in use, they must lay freely without pressure
on the padding and without the fastening ring under tension.
Ear muffs are to be changed after maximum 4 years. Hygiene device (packing rings + inside
foam rubber) are to be changed after maximum 6 months or before if the packing rings are
damaged.
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