Overprotection: when hearing protection attenuates too much

When is it overprotection?

DGUV Rule 112-194 recommends selecting hearing protection so that 70 to 80 dB(A) reaches the ear. A level below 70 dB(A) can mean overprotection; the UK Health and Safety Executive likewise advises avoiding protectors that bring the level at the ear below 70 dB. Above 85 dB(A), protection is insufficient and not permitted in Germany (§ 8 LärmVibrationsArbSchV). EU-wide, the exposure limit value of 87 dB(A) applies under hearing protection.

What too much attenuation does

• Warning signals, reversing alarms and shouted warnings are harder to hear.
• Conversations become tiring, and hearing protection is taken out to talk.
• Many people find strong attenuation isolating and wear their hearing protection less often. Protection over the shift falls.

Two worked examples

Calculated with the HML check of DGUV Rule 112-194 for medium- to high-frequency noise. 100 dB(A), EP1227 disposable foam earplugs with M 35 dB: 100 − (35 − 9) = 74 dB(A). That fits. 90 dB(A), same earplugs: 90 − 26 = 64 dB(A). Too much. Here, hearing protection with lower attenuation is the better choice, such as the EP102BO banded earplugs with 90 − (24 − 5) = 71 dB(A) or the EP904 earmuffs with 90 − (25 − 5) = 70 dB(A).

Below about 89 dB(A), even the lightest hearing protection in the EarProtect range attenuates more than necessary by calculation. For such levels, it is worth looking at hearing protection with even lower or level-dependent attenuation. Our hearing protection finder shows for each level which EarProtect products are in the recommended range.

Where overprotection is particularly critical

• Traffic routes: Where forklifts, lorries or cranes operate, horns and reversing alarms must remain audible.
• Teamwork: When guiding vehicles, slinging loads or working on lines with shouted instructions, speech intelligibility is part of safety.
• Alarms: Fire and evacuation signals must be audible throughout the noise area.
• Workers with hearing loss: Here, the selection should be discussed with the occupational physician.

Check signals on site

Whether warning signals remain audible with hearing protection is easy to test: trigger the signal and listen with hearing protection in place at the typical working positions, with the machines running. Anything that cannot be heard clearly needs different hearing protection or an additional visual signal.

How to avoid overprotection

1. Know the noise level at the workplace, from measurements or the risk assessment.
2. Calculate the level at the ear with the M value and the real-world deduction, for low-frequency noise with the L value.
3. Choose hearing protection that gives 70 to 80 dB(A) at the ear, not the one with the highest SNR.
4. Ask workers whether they can still understand signals and speech.