ear defenders

[sammmo]

our company has told us that parts of the factory are noisy and that we must wear ear defenders in these areas.. I don't like wearing ear defenders and have said i won't wear them all the time,, just when i think i should .but they are saying that whoever does'nt wear them will be disciplined..surely this can't be right ..i've worked in this factory for 18 yrs without defenders and if i choose not to wear them surely thats my choice and should not be told off for not wearing them

[CheekyChops]

The company are basically covering their backs in case you go deaf in the future and try to sue them for making you work in a noisy environment.

Can you sign a disclaimer to say that you are aware of the risks and it is entirely your decision to not wear ear defenders and if you suffer hearing loss you won't seek compensation?

I had a mate who worked in the office of a large factory adn whenever she went on the factory floor, she was supposed to wear big clumpy safety shoes. She signed a disclaimer saying that if something fell and hurt her foot, it was her own fault for chosing not to wear safety shoes. The Company were happy with that and so was she.

[sammmo]

apparently the company is saying nobody can sign a disclaimer and everyone must wear them

[CAJ1]

Could you request to wear ear plugs instead if they suit you any better? Bloody Health & Safety people annoy me! If I need to go to the workshop I need a hard hat, hi-vis vest, ear defenders and steel toe cap boots lol - what I sight I would be in all of that!

[sammmo]

to give the company there due, they have given us a selection to choose from..but i dont like sticking things over my ears or into my ears unless i have to..i dont think its natural especially if i don't think its justified..

[Hawkwalk]

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2005/20051643.htm

it will be something to do with the attached and not a policy your work has much control over if they are to comply with a statutory regulation.

[SA80]

I work in H+S CAJ1

PPE is the last control measure your employer can take sammmo, if your employer has those blue notices up saying it is mandatory then the law says you must wear them. However, if there is a health reason as to why you cannot wear them then your employer has a duty to access specialist advice IE Occupational Health to see if alternative/redeployment is an option. If however OH advice is sought and no other redeployment is suitable to you, then an employee may be found unfit for role and possibly have their contract terminated on these grounds.

Your employer has done a 'risk assessment'' and is therefore looking after your well being, any future hearing loss you incur will mean that your employer has shown 'due diligence' and you will find yourself hearing impaired and out of pocket.

[Sprogy]

Hawkwalk is right.
The Control of Noise at Work Regulations (CONAW 2005) came into effect this year. This regulatory document sets a scale of noise limits where differing levels of noise protection are required as a minimum.

A number of noise mitigation solutions can be carried out:
*quieter equipment
*enclose equipment in alternative location
*build a number of absorbent noise screens or enclosures around noisy items
*ear defenders

In CONAW 2005, the noise level at which action must be taken was lowered, and following the aforementioned noise survey risk assessment, the most obvious and cheapest solution is to get all you guys to wear ear defenders.

The employer however, must be careful that the employee is not OVER protected, and is still able to hear audible alarms within the workplace.

[parra]

sa80 should know he is a trained ninja from the british army . they fit silencers on there rifles so when they shoot any friendly natives what are left dont sue the army for making them go deaf with all all the big bangs.

[CAJ1]

SA80 sorry! I do a bit of H & S in my job too but I think a lot of H & S has gone a bit overboard - you can't do anything these days!

[cassa333]

Why don't you want to wear the ear defenders?

[cassa333]

Forgot to add.

If my employer (if I had one) wanted to protect my ears I would jump at the chance.

I am slightly deaf now because of work noise in the past. It was n't particuly loud either just constant.

You may feel invincible now but you just wait until you get that constant ringing in your ears.