laws and regulations

Occupational hearing loss is a serious problem. That is why the European Union places hearing loss in the highest category (III) of occupational risks. Hearing loss is a chronic condition that has a great impact on your personal life. 

You can safely hear a sound at 80 decibels for up to eight hours a day (or 40 hours a week). But as soon as this increases, it quickly becomes dangerous. With every 3 decibels, the noise doubles and so does the impact. This means you can only hear 83 decibels for four hours a day (or 20 hours a week). Noise of 103 decibels can damage your hearing in less than five minutes. Therefore, hearing protection is necessary to reduce the impact and danger.

Rights and obligations

• Workplaces with high noise levels (from 85 decibels) must be clearly marked. Employees are required to wear hearing protection here. From 80 decibels, employees are entitled to free hearing protection. 
• If the noise level exceeds 87 decibels, measures must be taken to reduce it.   
• The RI&E pays attention to noise. It establishes the level and duration of noise and the health effects. The works council must be involved in this investigation and the measures. 

• Information on harmful noise is mandatory. To prevent hearing damage, employees have the right to have a hearing test done by an expert.