SMI catalogue 2022 - Catalog - Page 170
HEARING
PRORECTION
172
EAR PLUGS
175
EAR DEFENDERS
Hearing problems caused by noise at
work are far too common. The Health &
Safety Executive estimates that 170,000
people in the UK suffer deafness,
tinnitus or other ear conditions as a
result of exposure to excessive noise at
work. Once your hearing is gone, it will
not come back – however, it is easily
preventable simply by removing or
reducing the exposure to noise.
As employers, your general duties are to
reduce risks to lowest level reasonably
practical of all noise level, keep records
and make available all noise results and
‘Buy Quiet’ policy to minimise risks from
all equipment and machinery.
SMI has developed a comprehensive
product suite to meet your Hearing
Protection needs, in compliance with all
required national legislation and best
practice guidelines.
REGULATIONS FOR
HEARING PROTECTION
The Personal Protective Equipment
at Work Regulations require hearing
protection to be supplied when an
individual is exposed to noise that will
damage hearing. The Noise at Work
Regulations 2005 sets two noise level
parameters:
• 80dBA – hearing protection must be
provided over this level
• 85dBA – hearing protection must
be worn within designated hearing
protection zones over this level.
EN 352 distinguishes between different
types of hearing protectors and each
type must comply with the respective
requirements that have been drawn
up. SMI offers three types, all of which
conform to the EN352:
• EN352-1 – for ear defenders
• EN352-2 – for earplugs and band
protectors
• EN352-3 – for helmet mounted ear
defenders.
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