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Occupations

Hearing protection by occupation

Ten occupations from metalworking, construction, wood, food, automotive and logistics with documented noise levels. Each page shows how loud it is, which duties apply and which hearing protection leaves 70 to 80 dB(A) at the ear.

  1. 01

    Hearing protection for metal grinders

    Metal, tank and shipbuilding

    Rough grinding reaches around 107 dB(A) according to BAuA, angle grinders in workshops 96.6 dB(A). Which hearing protection leaves 70 to 80 dB(A) at the ear.

    approx. 107 dB(A)Noise level during rough grinding, BAuA Fb 847, 1999
  2. 02

    Hearing protection for butchers

    Food, bowl cutter without lid

    Bowl cutter without lid around 100 dB(A), splitting saw 95 dB(A), according to Suva. Which hearing protection suits butchers and meat plants, detectable too.

    approx. 100 dB(A)Typical continuous sound level in sausage meat production, without exposure time, Suva sound level table 86373, 2026
  3. 03

    Hearing protection for demolition workers

    Construction, concrete drilling and sawing

    Drilling and sawing concrete: 97 dB(A) daily exposure according to BG BAU. Which hearing protection suits breakers and concrete saws, by DGUV calculation.

    approx. 97 dB(A)Daily exposure, BG BAU / DGUV, 2011
  4. 04

    Hearing protection for sewer construction workers

    Construction

    Sewer construction workers reach a daily exposure of 95 dB(A) according to BG BAU. Which hearing protection fits, with a worked example and tips for the trench.

    approx. 95 dB(A)Daily exposure, BG BAU / DGUV, 2011
  5. 05

    Hearing protection for carpenters

    Wood

    Circular saw 101.3 dB(A), nail gun 97.4 dB(A), daily exposure 87.5 to 92.4 dB(A): AUVA and BG BAU values for carpenters and the right hearing protection.

    approx. 91 dB(A)Daily exposure, BG BAU / DGUV, 2011
  6. 06

    Hearing protection for metalworkers

    Metal, steel construction

    Steelwork 91 dB(A) daily exposure, plasma cutting 95 dB(A), straightening and hammering 100 dB(A): noise in metalwork and the right hearing protection.

    approx. 91 dB(A)Daily exposure, BG BAU / DGUV, 2011
  7. 07

    Hearing protection for construction workers

    Construction, Construction labourers

    From 84 dB(A) for tilers to 101 dB(A) for crash barrier installers: BG BAU daily exposure values for 25 construction trades and the right hearing protection.

    approx. 89 dB(A)Daily exposure, BG BAU / DGUV, 2011
  8. 08

    Hearing protection for vehicle body repairers

    Automotive, panel beaters

    Panel beaters reach a daily exposure of 87.1 dB(A) according to AUVA, pneumatic chisels 106.9 dB(A). Workshop noise levels and the right hearing protection.

    approx. 87.1 dB(A)Daily exposure, average, AUVA Report 83
  9. 09

    Hearing protection at the airport

    Logistics, baggage, push-back, refuelling

    Baggage loading, push-back, refuelling: daily exposure from 85 dB(A) on the apron, some above 87 dB(A). What a study measured and which protection fits.

    approx. 85–87 dB(A)Daily exposure, above 87 with 6 hours on the apron, Gugliermetti et al., ICA 2010
  10. 10

    Hearing protection for joiners

    Wood, workshop

    Sliding table saw 94.7 dB(A), mitre saw 97.2 dB(A), jigsaw 92.6 dB(A): AUVA measurements from joinery workshops and the right hearing protection.

    approx. 86.7 dB(A)Daily exposure, average, AUVA Report 85

Daily exposure or machine level?

The list gives the values as the source states them. The daily exposure, more precisely the daily noise exposure level, averages the noise over an eight-hour shift; the duties from 80 and 85 dB(A) are based on it. A machine or activity level only applies while the machine is running.

For selecting hearing protection, the level at which it is worn is what counts. That is why each occupation page calculates both: the daily exposure and the loudest tasks of the occupation.

What applies from 80 and 85 dB(A)

From a daily exposure of 80 dB(A), the employer provides hearing protection, gives training and offers hearing checks. From 85 dB(A), hearing protection must be worn and noise areas are marked. All duties are listed in Legal requirements.

Hearing protection finderDuties in detail

Frequently asked questions

Which occupations are particularly exposed to noise?

In the measurement data from BG BAU, BAuA, BGN and AUVA, they include metal grinders, demolition workers, sewer construction workers, butchers, carpenters and metalworkers. In the BG BAU list, crash barrier installers at 101 dB(A) and corrosion protection workers at 100 dB(A) have the highest daily exposure.

Which hearing protection suits my occupation?

The one that leaves 70 to 80 dB(A) at the ear during the noisy work. Every occupation page has a calculation table; for your own values there is the hearing protection finder.

Where do the noise levels come from?

From published measurements and guidance: BG BAU, BAuA, DGUV, the BGN noise compendium, AUVA and a study on noise exposure on an airport apron. Each occupation page names its sources.