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1.5.3 Hearing Protection Zones (Regulation 7(3))

Primary Legislation

  • Designate the area as a Hearing Protection Zone
  • Demarcate and identify it with the mandatory sign (blue circle with white ear protection symbol) as specified in the Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996
  • Restrict access where practicable and the risk justifies it
  • Ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, that no employee enters unless wearing hearing protection

  • Designate the area as a

    Hearing Protection Zone

  • Demarcate and identify it with the mandatory sign (blue circle with white ear protection symbol) as specified in the Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996

  • Restrict access where practicable and the risk justifies it

  • Ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, that no employee enters unless wearing hearing protection

Why it matters: Hearing Protection Zones create a legal requirement for hearing protection use. Fit testing ensures that workers entering these zones are actually protected, not just wearing ineffective devices. Related: [#evidence-real-world-variability](#evidence-real-world-variability).

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