Who should supply ear protection and when?
Employers are required to provide their workforce with hearing protection, if they ask for it, when their noise exposure is between the lower and upper exposure action values. Employers must provide their workforce with hearing protectors and make sure they use them properly when their noise exposure exceeds the upper exposure action value. It is, therefore, the employers’ responsibility to make various ear protection freely available at all times. To ensure ear protection is worn correctly, training and consultations with personnel should be carried out. Incorrect use of ear protection will reduce the level of protection and thus increase risk to personnel.
