Hearing protection: Reclassified under EU law

Once the sensory cells responsible for hearing are damaged by noise, they cannot be regenerated, resulting in irreversible hearing loss which develops slowly, painlessly, often over 10 or 20 years, and may go unnoticed until it is too late. Hearing impairment produced by excessive noise adversely affects the quality of life and lifestyle of both the victim and their families. 

Noise creates stress, interferes with communication and acts as a distraction. Sufferers may feel stigmatised, alienated and isolated from their social circles, and unhappy at work. 

Individuals with hearing loss are likely to be more vulnerable to accidents, and find the job harder, leading to reduced productivity. Sufferers may take more risks than they should, as a difficulty in hearing warnings or instructions can lead to frustration, and an inability to hear alarms can lead to danger. 

In extreme cases, individuals face a potential reduction in income by being unable to work or keep their jobs. 

Reclassification of hearing protection

Due to the gravity of hearing loss, hearing protection has been reclassified under EU law. The new regulation is a binding legislative Act which is applied automatically to the whole of the EU, whereas a Directive needs to be transposed into each member states national law.  

The reclassification from Category II (Intermediate) to the more stringent Category III (Complex) under the new PPE Regulation (EU) 2016/425, came into force in April this year. 

Category III applies to risks that cause very serious consequences such as death or irreversible damage to health and escalates the severity or impact of the consequences of the risk. 

This upgrade to Category III means that hearing protection must now be treated as seriously as protection from asbestos, ionising radiation, electric shocks, falls from height, bullets and knives, and drowning. 

The reclassification of products from Category II to III means that products submitted to gain initial CE approval must now go through ongoing surveillance testing, with samples submitted annually to ensure they comply with the latest version of the standards. This process will help to improve the safety of the products on the market, eliminating counterfeit or poor-quality products.

The law

Thresholds of noise exposure, which require employers to take specific action if they are exceeded, are lower than people might think. Noise exposure should be measured and checked against the lower and upper Exposure Action Values (EAVs) as defined in the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005. If noise cannot be reduced at source, adequate hearing protection to reduce the noise to an acceptable level should be selected.

Lower and upper EAVs are an average of 80 and 85 decibels (dB) respectively measured over a day or a week. Exposure Limit Values are a daily or weekly average exposure of 87 dB and a peak sound pressure of 140dB. Noise exposure must not exceed these levels.

Choosing hearing protection

Many different types of protection are available, from disposable or reusable earplugs, earmuffs, canal caps and bespoke models, and selection should be according to noise exposure, occupation and environment. 

Their objective is to achieve an effective residual noise level of between 70 and 75dB once protection is correctly fitted, without over-protection. 

Whatever type of hearing protector is used, training to ensure accurate fitting is crucial or the devices will give workers a false sense of security. The product must be comfortable, hygienic and suit the individual, other PPE being worn and take into account personal preference. It must be kept clean and undamaged.

There is no excuse for neglecting to protect workers’ hearing. Excessive noise must be taken more seriously and the upgrade of hearing PPE to Category III is a positive step in the right direction, giving the irreversible condition the recognition it deserves.