1.5.4 Selection of Hearing Protection (Regulation 7(4))
Primary Legislation
(a) So as to eliminate the risk to hearing or to reduce the risk to as low a level as is reasonably practicable
(b) After consultation with the employees concerned or their representatives
(a) So as to eliminate the risk to hearing or to reduce the risk to as low a level as is reasonably practicable
(b) After consultation with the employees concerned or their representatives
Why this is critical for fit testing: Regulation 7(4)(a) is the legal foundation for fit testing. The employer must select hearing protection that reduces risk "to as low a level as is reasonably practicable." Without fit testing, the employer is selecting based on manufacturer's laboratory data (SNR), which research (see [#hse-rr720](#hse-rr720)) shows is often not achieved in practice. Fit testing provides the evidence that the selected protector actually reduces the individual's risk to the required level. Related: [#ppe-suitability-adequacy](#ppe-suitability-adequacy), [#ukhca-fit-testing](#ukhca-fit-testing).