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Over-protection

Protectors that reduce the level at the ear to below 70 dB should be avoided, since this over-protection may cause difficulties with communication and hearing warning signals. Users may become isolated from their environment, leading to safety risks, and generally may have a tendency to remove the hearing protection and therefore risk damage to their hearing.

The table below gives an indication of the protector factor that is likely to be suitable for different levels of noise (the noise level during a particular work task, not the daily personal noise exposure). It is based on the single number rating (SNR) value provided with a hearing protection device. The information is intended as a guide rather than a substitute for using one of the standardised methods for calculating hearing protection performance, and in particular will not be appropriate if there are significant low-frequency components to the noise in question. Examples of noise environments which may contain significant low-frequency components, and for which this table is not suitable, include press shops, generators and generator test bays, plant rooms, boiler houses, concrete shaker tables, moulding presses and punch presses.

Indication of protector factors:

A-weighted noise level (dB) Select a protector with an SNR of …

85-90

20 or less

90-95

20-30

95-100

25-35

100-105

30 or more

Link URLs in this page

  1. Noise at workhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/index.htm
  2. Regulationshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/regulations.htm
  3. Worried about your hearing?https://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/worried.htm
  4. Overview - Worried about your hearing?https://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/worried.htm
  5. Audio demonstrationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/assets/video/index.htm
  6. Overview - Advice for employershttps://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/advice.htm
  7. Employers' responsibilitieshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/employers.htm
  8. How do I assess the risks?https://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/risks.htm
  9. Managing noise risks checklisthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/checklist.htm
  10. Overview - How do I protect my workers?https://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/protect.htm
  11. How do I control the risks from noise?https://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/controlrisks.htm
  12. Use the information from my risk assessment?https://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/useinfo.htm
  13. Reduce noise?https://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/reducenoise.htm
  14. Choose quieter equipment and machinery?https://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/choosequieter.htm
  15. Hearing protectionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/hearingprotection.htm
  16. What do I need to tell my employees?https://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/assets/video/tell-index.htm
  17. Employee and safety representativeshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/safetyrep.htm
  18. Health surveillancehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/healthsurveillance.htm
  19. Advice for manufacturershttps://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/advice-for-manufacturers.htm
  20. Noise calculatorshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/calculator.htm
  21. Key messageshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/keyfacts.htm
  22. Overview - Industry good practicehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/goodpractice/index.htm
  23. Overview - Managing noise riskshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/goodpractice/managingrisks.htm
  24. Over-protectionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/goodpractice/hearingoverprotect.htm
  25. Accounting for 'real-world' factorshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/goodpractice/hearingrealworld.htm
  26. Advice on issuing hearing protectionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/goodpractice/hearingadvice.htm
  27. Workplace designhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/goodpractice/workplacedesign.htm
  28. Plastic productshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/goodpractice/plastics.htm
  29. Overview - Wood workinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/goodpractice/woodworking.htm
  30. Saw millinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/goodpractice/sawmilling.htm
  31. Air turbulencehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/goodpractice/airturbulence.htm
  32. Planing and mouldinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/goodpractice/planingmoulding.htm
  33. Overview - Concrete and cementhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/goodpractice/concrete.htm
  34. General informationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/goodpractice/concretegeninfo.htm
  35. Avoiding impactshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/goodpractice/avoidingimpacts.htm
  36. Music and entertainmenthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/goodpractice/music-and-entertainment.htm
  37. Overview - Case studieshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/casestudies/index.htm
  38. Full indexhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/casestudies/fullindex.htm
  39. Sound solutionshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/casestudies/soundsolutions/index.htm
  40. Overview - Resourceshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/furtherinfo.htm
  41. Publicationshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/publications.htm
  42. Researchhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/research.htm
  43. Statisticshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/statistics.htm
  44. Overview - Policy statementshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/policy.htm
  45. Acoustic shockhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/acoustic.htm
  46. Noise calculatorshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/calculator.htm
  47. Noise: Don't lose your hearing https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg363.htm
  48. Noise at work: A brief guide to controlling the riskshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg362.htm
  49. Hearing loss - what's it like?https://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/assets/video/index.htm

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Updated 2010-02-02