When it is not feasible to limit noise levels, what must be provided and used?

When it is not feasible to limit noise levels in the workplace, the requirement is to provide and use ear protective devices. This requirement underscores the importance of safeguarding workers’ hearing when they are exposed to elevated noise levels that could potentially lead to hearing loss or other auditory issues.

Ear protective devices, such as earmuffs or earplugs specifically designed for hearing protection, mitigate the transmission of sound into the ear and effectively reduce the risk of noise-induced hearing damage. These devices are required to meet certain regulatory standards to ensure they provide adequate protection against harmful noise levels.

While hearing aids assist individuals who already have hearing loss, they do not serve as a preventative measure in noisy environments. Noise-cancelling headphones may help in reducing perceived noise levels, but they are primarily designed for personal listening experiences and not necessarily for occupational safety. Regular earplugs do provide some level of noise reduction, however, ear protective devices encompass a broader range of specialized products that offer various levels of protection specifically tested and approved for work environments with hazardous noise exposure. Thus, the emphasis on ear protective devices ensures compliant and effective hearing conservation in such settings.