Rank: Forum user 
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Does anyone have any experience of providing hearing protection for someone who wears a hearing aid.
The situation is a number of staff providing 'handypersons' services in the community including some use of hand held battery operated tools (drilling machines, jig saws etc.).
Staff have been been transferred over under 'TUPE' and one member wears a hearing aid.
The use of hand held powered tools requires the use of hearing protection (plugs or muffs are provided) however the memebr of staff who wears a hearing aid is a problem.
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Rank: Guest
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Jeff,
Apologies but couldnt resist,
tell the man to turn his hearing aid off, he wont need protection then!!
Really sorry
Sean
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Rank: Super forum user 
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I know Sean is being facetious, but I think he's half-way there, even if for the wrong reason.
First of all, somebody who wear a hearing aid has residual hearing, so is actually in greater need of hearing protection than somebody with undamaged hearing. So your person should turn off their aid, remove it, and wear hearing protection,
John
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Rank: Forum user 
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Doesn't it depend on the type of hearing protection you are looking at.
Personally i would suggest turning the hearing aid off but instead of removal, perhaps using ear defenders with the appropriate eye protection so as not to interfere with the function of the defenders.
Sometimes making it workable would ensure he would use it without having to enforce it, as such.
Perhaps he wouldn't need to turn off the aid at all if he used ear defenders?
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Rank: Super forum user 
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http://www.moldex-europe.com/en/http://solutions.3m.co.u...al/3M/en_GB/EU2/Country/I have always found PPE suppliers a good point of call for some free advice. In the past people on this forum have also linked to charities that offer advice and support as well. I agree requirement to protect is higher - we have a deaf employee and he still wears protection as damage can still occur and result in loss of any remaining hearing or tinnitus etc!
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Rank: Forum user 
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As an aid user myself, I have to agree with John. And the person in question should not be fooled into thinking that just turning off the aid is doing any good - there will be some attenuation of noise depending on how good a fit the aid is but if the levels are loud enough to be a concern, residual hearing will still be at risk.
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Rank: Forum user
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Using ear defenders over working aids is likely to cause feedback, so even if they are kept in, turning them off is advisable.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Also bear in mind that the ear defender is not supposed to block out all sound, it is to reduce the amount of noise entering the ear. People still need to be able to hear alarms, instructions, reversing vehicles etc.
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