Rank: New forum user 
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HI,
One of our truck drivers has been told by an offsite FLT trainer that it is dangerous to wear hearing protection whilst driving an FLT as they need to be able to hear clearly to drive safely. As the factory is mandatory hearing protection, I am concerned that our FLT drivers are not wearing HPE when driving in a very noisy factory. Does anyone know if the workplace noise regs. cover this? Form a legal point of view what should we be doing?
Thanks for your help.
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Rank: Forum user
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Hi,
We have a similar problem.We operate a 2.5ton diesel truck that emits 103db of noise emmisions (picked up in a noise survey).
I have spoken to the driver who has said that he finds it difficult to hear when he's got them in. My view is that with 103db he is working with equipment over the second action level with regards to noise regs.
Having been a forklift driver myself for several years (not currently) and having worked on a site that required hearing protection as a mandatory policy I automatically used them. The main advantage I found was that the protection screened the sound in the general environment and I became familiar with the sounds of people and machinery that were relevent. I have to admit that it took some time though.
Hope this helps
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Rank: Forum user
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I'd be asking if or why he needs to be able to hear in order to drive safely. If he is working in an area where there are pedestrians, then can you separate the pedestrians from the FLT effectively? If he needs to get instruction from people off the FLT, can that be done by hand signals? For "emergency stop" commands could a loud whistle be used?
If it was me on the truck I would insist on wearing hearing protection as it's my hearing that suffers if I don't.
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Rank: Forum user 
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HI Brough its only a quick reply , as going out (o yes we safety managers do have a life ) their are manufactures that can make bespoke hearing protection that will eliminate certain noise frequencies this may be a route you might want to follow up
Chris
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Further to Chris C's post, I used to work for a company that provided bespoke hearing protection for each individual. The company providing the device was called "Variphone". They were hard plastic specifically molded to the operatives ear, and was easy for the operative to wash with normal soap and water. They were adjustable (not by operative)and you could hear people talking to you ( I used to wear mine in an open plan office, to cut background noise). At the NEC recently I noted there were a few companies offering similar devices.
Not sure if this is they way you would want to go, as I also agree with Borisgiles post.
I may still have some details of the variphone company, if your interested PM me.
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Rank: Forum user
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Just to add to the comments that you've already recieved, unfortunately if you operate a mandatory hearing protection in your factory then FLT drivers should not be exempt from wearing PPE. However you must understand the level of exposure to nosie (8 hr TWA) and select hearing protectionon that basis. Like others have mentioned you can get bespoke hearing protection to eliminate certain noise frequencies.
But PPE should be the last option, I don't know enough about your factory but under the Noise at Work Regulations req 6 you should also eliminate or control the noise at sourse to reduce. Therefore I suggest getting the Engineering Manager to develop a noise reduction costing programme based on your noise survey (some noise monitoring companies now do this along with the survey). New machinary specification ensure you take into account what it is likely to emit in dB before installation and set below the action limits etc etc
Also Health Surviellance to understand if there is any deteriation of hearing in employees. A programme of traing to provide information, instrucution and training to employees outlining the health effects, and how to use the hearing protection. As most employees don't always wear the PPE correctly and this also has to be managed so there need to be some support from you collegues to enforce this.
All of the above should help you demonstrate that your factory are managing the exposure from noise at work but also help if future legistlations changes.
Hope this helps....and good luck.
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