Hearing protection must be made available when noise exposure exceeds 80 dB(A), and it must be used when the noise cannot be brought below 85 dB(A) by other means. Here are the limits, the types of hearing protection you can choose between, and what the SNR figure on the packaging actually tells you.

When should you use hearing protection?

The rules of the Danish Working Environment Authority (Arbejdstilsynet) are based on two limits for daily noise exposure, meaning noise measured as an average over a working day, and on peak values for short, loud sounds (impulse noise).

From 80 dB(A): the employer must act

• Hearing protection must be made available to employees. This also applies if peak values exceed 135 dB(C), or if the noise is otherwise harmful or severely disturbing.
• The employer must instruct employees on the risks of noise.
• If the workplace assessment (APV) shows a risk of hearing damage, the employee must have access to a hearing test.
• The Danish Working Environment Authority recommends that employees use hearing protection if noise exposure exceeds 80 dB(A), or if peak values exceed 130 dB(C). This is a recommendation, not a requirement.

From 85 dB(A): the limit value

• No one may be exposed to noise above 85 dB(A) or peak values above 137 dB(C).
• If the noise cannot be reduced by technical and organisational measures, the work may only be carried out if employees use hearing protection. This is an exception for special cases.
• The noise under the hearing protection must not exceed 85 dB(A) or 137 dB(C). The protection must therefore attenuate enough.
• Areas where hearing protection is required must be marked with a mandatory sign.

Hearing protection is the last line of defence. The noise must first be removed or reduced at the source, for example with quieter tools, screening or shorter exposure.

Types of hearing protection

• Earplugs: sit in the ear canal. Available as disposable and reusable. They take up little space, work well with helmets and glasses and are easy to keep in your pocket.
• Earmuffs with headband: cover the whole ear. Quick to put on and take off, and easy to see that a colleague is actually wearing them.
• Helmet-mounted earmuffs: fitted to the safety helmet and folded down when needed. Practical if you wear a helmet all day.
• Communication hearing protection: earmuffs with a built-in microphone and radio, so the team can talk without taking the protection off. One example is the Guardio Freebird COM, which complies with EN 352 and has 16 channels on PMR446.

What does SNR mean?

SNR (Single Number Rating) is a single figure in dB that states the attenuation of the hearing protection, measured under laboratory conditions. For example, 3M E-A-R Classic earplugs are rated at up to 31 dB SNR. This does not mean the noise at your ears drops by 31 dB. Fit, wear and how the protection sits in practice mean that the real attenuation is lower than the figure on the packaging.

How to choose hearing protection

1. Know the noise. Choose based on the measured or assessed noise level in your APV, not on gut feeling.
2. Choose suitable attenuation. It must attenuate enough to get below 85 dB(A) under the protection. Too much attenuation is not good either: you still need to be able to hear colleagues, warning signals and machine sounds.
3. Think about how it will be used. A helmet all day calls for helmet-mounted earmuffs. Changing environments and many breaks call for plugs or a headband. If you need to talk to each other, choose communication protection.
4. Ensure a good fit. Plugs must be inserted correctly. Earmuffs must seal tightly, and glasses, beards and hair between the cushion and the head can cause leakage.
5. Maintain it. Replace worn cushions and plugs as instructed by the supplier. Cracked or hard cushions attenuate less.

Frequently asked questions

At how many dB should you use hearing protection?

The employer must make hearing protection available from 80 dB(A), and the Danish Working Environment Authority recommends using it from that level. Noise must not exceed 85 dB(A), and if it cannot be reduced by other means, the work may only be carried out with hearing protection.

Who pays for hearing protection?

The employer. PPE for the job is procured and paid for by the employer. Read more in the employer's responsibility for PPE.

Are plugs or earmuffs better?

Neither is better in itself. It depends on the noise level, whether you wear a helmet and glasses, and how often you take the protection on and off. What matters most is that it attenuates enough and is actually worn.

Can you be too well protected?

Yes. Over-attenuation makes it hard to hear warning signals and talk to colleagues, and the protection often ends up being taken off.

See our range of hearing protection. If you are unsure what to choose, call us on +45 89 88 67 26.

Source: the Danish Working Environment Authority's guidance on noise (VEJ no. 9453 of 1 June 2023) and hearing protection. This article is for guidance and is not an exhaustive legal review.