Sorry bigpub - but that isn't what it means if we're talking about noise exposure within the EU. The 87dBA refers to the maximum noise impact that an individual can receive on the inside of any hearing protection that may be provided. First, all hearing protective devices should attenuate the received noise to the lowest reasonably practicable level. With regard to the 87dBA, hearing protection below the 2nd Action Level of 85dBA won't raise this question. Received noise above 85dBA but below 87dBA will attract the requirement to provide and use hearing protection but it will still not attract the imposition of the max allowable impact of 87dBA. For received noise above 87dBA, all hearing protection must not only attenuate the ambient noise, it must also ensure attenuation to the point that the maximum noise received within the hearing protection does not exceed 87dBA whatever the actual external noise levels generated. Frank Hallett

Hi Martin The HSE only enforce the law. The Noise at Work Regs arise from an EU Directive with no ability to exempt or derogate the absolute limit of 87dBA received inside the hearing protection. Quite right too as far as I'm concerned. Without a set maximum within the hearing protection there would be a great deal of "weaselling" as to whether any particular received level was "reasonably practicable" and a lot more workers going deaf quicker and not being able to get the recompense that they deserve. The only argument, is as you identify, why it isn't set at 85dBA. For that, you should research the EU Commission "experts evidence" when revising the Noise Directive. Unfortunately, this is not easy to do via the HSE website - it's become very inwards looking - but if you go to the Europa website you should find it [it's not quick though]. Look for Physical Agents (Noise) Directive (2003/10/EC) Frank Hallett

It's a bit like having a "Short Term Exposure Limit" in EH40 but with a sliding scale at which the [rather complicated] sums indicate the Definitive cut-off for time v "volume" in a similar way as for managing vibration. Sorry - that's just the very simplified version. Frank Hallett.

Hi The dB scale does not equate to inhalation of fibers/dust in the same way as it is a logarithmic scale. I thought the 85 dBA was an 8 hour/weekly exposure and the 87 dBA was an absolute exposure inside the hearing protection. In terms of noise reduction - thee is a general requirement for workplaces to do this whether or not any action levels have been breached. Also, the peak pressure levels are different and are a different scale (dBC). Ian

Oh sorry, I'm just as guilty for going off topic, and as Frank says we were just saying that noise wasn't the only hazard that we 'protect' but which we don't 'prevent', and the available PPE allows less but significant exposure - re breathing silica dust from a Stihl saw for 12 minutes is significant in my opinion, so, using an FFP3 mask for 4 hours allows significant exposure? New thread!