HEARING PROTECTION
EmployErs must providE thE samE lEvEl of hEaring
protEction to all WorkErs undEr amEndEd ppE rEgulations
tim turney, global marketing manager at occupational hygiene and environmental expert casella, shares expert advice on hearing protection in the workplace...
E
mployers in Great Britain need to ensure that they are ready to provide the same level of hearing protection to workers who carry out casual work as employees who have a contract of employment under updated personal protective equipment (PPE) regulations that came into force on 6 April 2022. The amendment to the Personal Protective Equipment at
Work Regulations extends employers’ and employees’ duties to all workers, regardless of employment type. The news follows the recent revision to the Control of Noise at Work Regulations, which places an emphasis on the priority of control of exposure and risk at the source.
Understanding legal reqUirements The Control of Noise at Work Regulations follow European Union Directives to ensure that workers’ hearing is protected from excessive noise. The level at which employers must provide hearing protection and hearing protection zones is 85 dB(A) (daily or weekly average exposure) and the level at which employers must assess the risk to workers' health and provide them with information and training and access to PPE is 80 dB(A). Noise levels between 80-85 dB(A) are comparable to the sound of heavy traffic or a noisy restaurant. The Personal Protective Equipment at Work
(Amendment) Regulations 2022 (PPER 2022) will require employers to protect casual workers as well as full-time employees.
Using noise monitoring to gather accUrate insights Noise monitoring provides accurate insights into the noise levels of a working environment so that businesses can identify problem areas and ensure they adhere to health and safety regulations. However, professionals undertaking the monitoring should be trained and prepared sufficiently with the right equipment as minor errors in noise level estimates can lead to major errors in exposure calculations. Inaccurate estimates can risk worker health, employer prosecution and unnecessary expenses undertaking exposure limiting measures based on inaccurate data. Two pieces of equipment used for the assessment are the sound level meter,
36 may/JunE 2022 | industrial compliancE
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