Hi, my organisation is currently looking to introduce mandatory hearing protection across the factory. Is it possible to make this a mandatory requirement even if the noise levels do not exceed the upper action limit? A snapshot has been carried which did identify some areas of concern but these areas are mostly un-manned for the majority of the day and until we carry out dose meter readings we cannot determine actual exposure levels. Is it better to carry out dose meter assessments then act on the basis of factual evidence or go mandatory until results prove differently? Any advice on how to progress would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for your helpful response to this.

2 sides to this coin. Firstly, blanket Hearing protection policy is now frowned upon as it does cause other issues, but if you have people going from one part of the plant into another and from a non-hearing protection zone into a mandatory area then it could be overlooked, no matter how well signed it is. We have peole who are used to working on installations where it is mandatory anywhere outside the accomodation and when they come on board an installation where it is zoned, they do forget. Decide whihc is the lesser of 2 evils if you must!!