How to get workers to wear hearing protection

The HSE has published the results of research into how employers can encourage workers exposed to loud noise to wear hearing protection.

"The research, conducted by the Institute of Occupational Medicine in Edinburgh, concluded that there are many simple and practical measures that companies can take to improve the use of hearing protection and the attitudes of workers towards it. These actions are not new, but simply what an enthusiastic safety professional/manager would recommend in the course of their work, adhering to the principles of good training practice and participative, active-learning models."

"The research recommends over 30 actions in areas such as: selection of hearing protection; information, instruction and training; management of the hearing-protection programme; and behavioural safety programmes."

"The research is timely because under new European legislation, which will have to be transposed into UK law by the end of 2005, employers will have to make every effort to ensure that hearing protection is worn when exposure reaches 85dB(A). Under existing law, hearing protection only has to be worn when exposure reaches 90dB(A). As part of implementation of the Physical Agents (Noise) Directive, the HSE will revise its guidance to employers, incorporating the findings of the research."