Northrock PPE Catalogue 2021

HEARING PROTECTION Portwest’s hearing protection range includes PPE with different level sound attenuation, to be adapted to various working environments giving the correct protection from dangerous noise, without isolating the workers. This range of earmuffs offers a variety of models and colours allowing a personalised choice.

The PPE Regulation (EU) 2016/425 has a risk approach which defines harmful noise as a risk that may cause very serious hearing injuries. As a result, the Regulation has recategorized hearing protection from Category 2 Risk PPE (Intermediate) to Category 3 Risk (Complex). The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 The Noise Regulation 2005 requires employers to prevent or reduce risks to health and safety from exposure to noise at work. It asks to take specific actions and defines action levels and limit values of exposure to noise:

EN 352-1: 2020 Hearing Protectors - Ear Muffs EN 352-2: 2020 Hearing Protectors - Ear Plugs EN 352-3: 2020 Hearing Protectors - Helmet Mounted Ear Muffs EN 352-4: 2020 Hearing Protectors - Level Dependent Ear Muffs EN 352-8: 2020 Earmuffs with Entertainment Radio

Daily / Weekly average exposure to noise

Peak Sound pressure

LOWER EXPOSURE ACTION VALUES

80dB

135dB

UPPER EXPOSURE ACTION VALUES

85dB

137dB

LEVELS OF NOISE EXPOSURE THAT MUST NEVER BE EXCEEDED

87dB

140db

How To Protect Yourself? 4 Steps To Choose The Appropriate Hearing Protection.

All these standards establish requirements with regards to the manufacture, design, performances and test methods.

1. Identify the nature of the noise: stable, fluctuating, intermittent or pulse. 2. Measure the noise at the working station: intensity (dB) and volume (Hz). 3. Determine the exposure time. 4.Calculate the required attenuation needed. The attenuation level offered by the hearing protector should bring the noise to a level that is not harmful to health whilst avoiding over-protection which would isolate the worker.

• SNR (Simplified Noise Reduction): Single average value of attenuation.

HML : Attenuation values expressed in terms of average levels of frequencies: H : Attenuation of PPE at high frequencies (pitched noises). M : Attenuation of PPE at medium frequencies. L : Attenuation of PPE at low frequencies (bass sounds). ANSI S3.19 1974 American National Standard - Methods for Hearing Protection Measurement This standard specifies the test method for determining the level of noise attenuation (NRR Noise Reduction Rating) of the hear ing protection, as recommended by the EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency).

Do You Value Your Hearing?

20dB

Whisper

30dB

Watch Ticking

40dB

Rainfall

50dB

Quiet Street

QUIET NOISE DANGEROUS NOISE 60dB 70dB 80dB 90dB 100dB 110dB 120dB 130dB

Conversation

Vacuum Cleaner

Passing Car

Passing Truck, Power Tools, Lawnmower

Pneumatic Drill, Tractor, Chainsaw

Pneumatic Drill, Tractor, Chainsaw, Leaf Blower

AS/NZS 1270 2002 Australian and New Zealand standard for Hearing Protectors Devices. This standard specifies the attenuation of fered by a hearing protection device through Sound Level Conversion (SLC80).

THRESHOLD OF PAIN

Ambulance, Jack Hammer

Jet Plane

820