Croatian Union of Mechanical Engineers and Naval Architects
Abstract
Real efficiency of hearing PPE is frequently lower than assumed. Selection
of hearing PPE in accordance with new Ordinance on Protection of Workers
from Noise at Work and Directive 2003/10/EC is facilitated by use of
one of the calculation methods: octave band, HML and SNR. However,
a selection of optimum PPE is much more than that, as it is critical that
workers wish and can use protectors during the entire exposure time. In
a very noisy environment limiting factor of protection is much more time
of non-wearing of PPE than level of protection it provides. Efficiency of
hearing protection can be enhanced by use of new technologies: miniature
noise dosimeters, checking of real efficiency of hearing PPE and by
selective attenuation of sounds.Real efficiency of hearing PPE is frequently lower than assumed. Selection
of hearing PPE in accordance with new Ordinance on Protection of Workers
from Noise at Work and Directive 2003/10/EC is facilitated by use of
one of the calculation methods: octave band, HML and SNR. However,
a selection of optimum PPE is much more than that, as it is critical that
workers wish and can use protectors during the entire exposure time. In
a very noisy environment limiting factor of protection is much more time
of non-wearing of PPE than level of protection it provides. Efficiency of
hearing protection can be enhanced by use of new technologies: miniature
noise dosimeters, checking of real efficiency of hearing PPE and by
selective attenuation of sounds
