As of April 6th 2006 it became law for your employees to supply hearing protection if staff are exposed to 85db of noise. This is the equivalent of standing on a busy residential road. We have designed industrial earplugs specifically for that application. Our industrial earplugs are used by blue chip companies to owner operations, indeed as testament to our ingenuity, we've even designed specific industrial earplugs to be detectable, a necessity in the food industry.

• Is the noise intrusive - like a busy street, a vacuum cleaner or a crowded restaurant - for most of the working day?
• Do you have to raise your voice to have a normal conversation when about 2 metres apart for at least part of the day?
• Do you use noisy powered tools or machinery for over half an hour a day?
• Do you work in a noisy industry, eg construction, demolition or road repair; woodworking; plastics processing; engineering; textile manufacture; general fabrication; forging, pressing or stamping; paper or board making; canning or bottling; foundries?
• Are there noises because of impacts (eg hammering, drop forging, pneumatic impact tools etc), explosive sources such as cartridge-operated tools or detonators, or guns?

You are also at risk if you have muffled hearing at the end of the day, even if it is better by the next morning. However, there is no need for your hearing to be damaged at all - your employer has a duty to protect you and should be working on measures to reduce the risk by implementing some form of hearing protection..

What does my employer have to do?

The law says your employer has to:

• find out what levels of noise you are exposed to and assess the risk to your hearing.
  

Depending on the levels of noise exposure, your employer must:

• control the noise exposure by 'engineering' it out, eg by putting in screens or barriers, or fitting a silencer;
• change the way you work or the layout of the workplace - not just rely on hearing protectors;
• provide the quietest machinery that will do the job;
• give you hearing protection (a selection, so you can choose a type that suits you);
• send you for regular hearing checks;
• provide you with training and information;
• consult you and your representatives.
  

What do I have to do?

Co-operate. Help your employer to do what is needed to protect your hearing. Make sure you use properly any noise control devices (eg noise enclosures), and follow any working methods that are put in place.

Wear any hearing protection you are given. Wear it properly (you should be trained how to do this), and make sure you wear it all the time when you are doing noisy work, and when you are in hearing protection areas. Taking it off even for a short while means that your hearing could still be damaged.

Look after your hearing protection. Your employer should tell you how to look after it and where you can get it from. Make sure you understand what you need to do.

Report any problems. Report any problems with your hearing protection or noise control devices straight away. Let your employer or safety representative know. If you have any ear trouble, let your employer know.

What do I have to look out for?

Hearing protection such as earmuffs and earplugs is your last line of defence against damage, so check the following:

Earmuffs

• Make sure they totally cover your ears, fit tightly and there are no gaps around the seals.
• Don't let hair, jewellery, glasses, hats etc interfere with the seal.
• Try and keep the seals and the insides clean.
• Don't stretch the headband too much - make sure it keeps its tension.
  

Earplugs

• They can be difficult to fit properly - practise fitting them and get help if you are having trouble. Often they can look like they are fitted properly, but they may not be giving you much protection.
• Clean your hands before you fit earplugs, and don't share them.
• Some types you use only once, others can be re-used and even washed - make sure you know which type you have.

What checks do I have to make as an employer?

You need to make sure that employees use hearing protection when required to. You may want to:

• include the need to wear hearing protection in your safety policy. Put someone in authority in overall charge of issuing them and making sure replacements are readily available;
• carry out spot checks to see that the rules are being followed and that hearing protection is being used properly. If employees carry on not using it properly you should follow your normal company disciplinary procedures;
• ensure all managers and supervisors set a good example and wear hearing protection at all times when in hearing protection zones;
• ensure only people who need to be there enter hearing protection zones and do not stay longer than they need to.

Ultimate Hearing Protection Ear plugs

Effective factory communication is the lifeblood of successfully running a factory. It connects employees, fosters teambuilding, facilitates change and drives business results in any industrial situation. No matter how you look at it, communication is an integral part of the company's landscape and cannot be taken for granted.

This is why ultimate ear protection design and manufacture customized factory communication improving ear defenders to specifically address company's unique requirements. We can do this by simply reducing the ambient noise levels using bespoke ear plugs, or indeed, versions with speakers fitted inside, facilitating clear factory communication in a large variety of industrial situations, all the while helping the employer conform to new health and safety regulations.

Our industrial earplugs:

• Can be worn for long periods without any discomfort.
• Defend against hazardous noises, but allow the wearer to hear conversation and warning signals.
• Can be fitted with filters to provide varying levels of protection tailored to the noise levels within your specific industrial situation/environment.
• Will not degrade and will provide years of use (most users replace after five years).
• Can be manufactured from our unique 'squidgy' material, a medical grade silicon which is easy to clean.
• Can be combined with radio and telecommunications technologies for numerous industrial communications and entertainment applications.
• Our industrial earplugs can be supplied using our revolutionary detection system - an absolute necessity in the in the food industry but common sense in any industrial situation.
• Are available to purchase through our unique interest free payment plan, allowing you to spread the cost of your investment (bulk orders only)

All of our hearing protection products are manufactured to the highest standards; indeed, we are the first company of our kind to guarantee our ear protection products.

© 2009 ultimate ear protection         Company Registration Number: 4917157          Company Registered: England & Wales