GBP 57 The protection of employees in a noisy working environment is regulated by the EC Noise Exposure Directive 2003/10/EC. This clearly specifies that at noise levels 80 dB and above hearing protection must be provided by the employer and that at noise levels 85 dB and above suitable hearing protection must be worn by the employee. The technical safety requirements specified in EN 352-1 to EN 352-8 must be satisfied. Do you need hearing protection? ⌀ Noise level < 80 dB ⌀ Noise level 80 dB to 85 dB or ⌀ Noise level > 85 dB noise pulses < 135 dB noise pulses 135 dB to 137 dB noise pulses > 137 dB Obligation to provide No obligation to wear Obligation to provide and hearing protection hearing protection wear hearing protection but no obligation to wear it In a noisy working environment, make sure that the hearing protection is being worn 100 % of the time. Even short periods during which hearing protection is not worn lead to complete loss of the protective effect. 100 % 99 % 90 % Duration of wearing Duration of wearing Duration of wearing Maximum protection Significantly Practically reduced protection no protection Overprotection Target range 60 70 80 90 100 Volume in dB Residual noise level: Correction: SNR value: Noise level: 72 dB 5 dB 33 dB 100 dB Plus correction for variance* *D  epending on the type of hearing protection used, a + 9 dB + 5 dB + 5 dB + 5 dB correction value to allow for variance must be included. 63