• Hearing Protectors - Selection and Use of - Oct 2003 pdf [size: 89KB ]
• Hearing Protectors - Classified - Updated Mar 2009 pdf [size: 260KB ]
  • Please note: This list will be gradually added to as test details on hpds are summitted by suppliers
• Hearing Protectors - Graded - Nov 2001 pdf [size: 88KB ]
  • Please note: this list will not be added to further

Explanatory Notes: Selection and Use of Hearing Protectors

Background – Change of System

All Departmental staff will be aware of the List of Graded Hearing Protectors produced as part of the Noise Resource Kit in 1996. This list was developed over a number of years and included Hearing Protectors previously approved by the Director General of Health. Although many of the devices on the list can no longer be purchased people may still have serviceable Hearing Protectors which comply with these previous provisions. With the publication of the Joint Australian/New Zealand Standards AS/NZS1269, 1998 parts 0 to 4 and the opportunity to now use the internet for the distribution of information, a change the system of the recognition of hearing protectors is necessary. This is a revised policy only to the extent that it updates requirements for hearing protection recognition and use in accordance with the development of new Standards.

AS/NZS Standards on Occupational Noise

A series of Standards have been published which cover Occupational Noise Management. They are:

AS/NZS 1269.0:1998 Overview
AS/NZS 1269.1:1998 Measurement and assessment of noise immission and exposure
AS/NZS 1269 2:1998 Noise control management
AS/NZS 1269.3:1998 Hearing protector program
AS/NZS 1269.4: 1998 Auditory assessment
AS/NZS 1270:1999 Hearing Protectors (update of the previous Australian Standard on Hearing Protectors, AS 1270, 1988)

the Department of Labour was represented on the expert committee responsible for their production, and the Standards should now be accepted as the Australian and New Zealand consensus view of the management of noise in the workplace.

Because the subject matter is highly technical and there is a time difference between the publication of the ACOP on Noise Management and this series of Standards, there may be some minor differences between the standards and the Approved Code of Practice on Noise. The ACOP is currently being reviewed.

AS/NZS 1270:1999 specifies the method for the subjective measurement of the real-ear attenuation of hearing protectors to determine the attenuation characteristics of those hearing protectors. This new standard aligns closely to the corresponding technical provisions of ISO 4869-1:1990 Acoustics--Hearing protectors, Part 1: Subjective method for the measurement of sound attenuation.

Hearing Protector Ratings – a new method

With the introduction of the ASNZS 1269 and 1270 Standards a new method of rating has been introduced.

Until the publication of the ASNZS 1270:1999 hearing protectors were graded under a process devised and operated originally by the then Department of Health. This grading related the attenuation capabilities of the device to the average noise level in the workplace.

The new process has been developed to more closely mimic the performance of the protector in the hands of an informed user in the workplace. These devices are allocated a Class rating. Please note that there is a significant difference between the Grade and Class and it is not appropriate to just change a graded protector to a Class without testing. Graded protectors can still be used up to 1 July 2003. Please refer to the Internet documents for further comment (available soon).

Manufactures, importers and suppliers to test to new standard AS/NZS 1270: 1999

Since the completion and publication of AS/NZS 1270 now allows for an orderly process for testing and labeling of hearing protectors, we are suggesting that manufacturers, importers and suppliers test hearing protectors to that Standard (or an equivalent Standard). This will confirm that the hearing protector is likely to give adequate protection from the harmful effects of the noise exposed to, when worn correctly as a part of a comprehensive hearing protector programme. Regulations 68 and 69 of the HSE Regulations 1995 apply in this situation and it is the Department's view that all hearing protectors should be tested and marketed in accordance with those regulations. This process allows an employer to be satisfied they are taking "All Practicable Steps" under the HSE Act to ensure the safety of employees from the harmful effects of noise.

Following the publication of this AS/NZS 1270 Standard, the Department will no longer (through an arrangement we have had with ESR) carry out an assessment of hearing protectors.

Instead all suppliers will produce evidence to the Department that their hearing protector(s) have been tested in accordance with AS/NZS 1270, and given a Class rating as provided for in AS/NZS 1269.3. This evidence will be in the form of a certificate from an accredited laboratory. This will also include the requirement to have specific information on the packaging. On this basis the Department will then place the hearing protector on a new list

(Classified Hearing Protectors) to be published on the internet and updated on a regular basis.

If an employer, employee, or a Departmental officer is required to check on the status of a particular hearing protector they will be able to refer to this published list to match the class of an acceptable hearing protector to the average noise climate of the workplace.

This new procedure should have the advantage over the old method of a much faster inclusion on a list of acceptable hearing protectors and much wider and easier access to the updated information. However please note the "Classified Hearing Protector List" is essentially blank at the moment. The required information will be added as suppliers provide this after testing. You need to check the list regularly for updates.

Summary

With the introduction of the suite of AS/NZS Standards a new process will be implemented for identifying hearing protectors that are considered to be acceptable for use in workplaces.

The new list of hearing protectors that have been tested to the new Standard will be placed on the internet and updated from the information provided by suppliers who have had their devices tested in accordance with the new AS/NZS 1270.

All devices on the present list (tested to the previous AS 1270, 1988 Standard or the ISO 4869, 1991 Standard) will remain on the existing Grade list on the Internet with a note to the effect that they have been tested to old Standards.

This Grade list will be removed from the Internet site on 1 July 2003.

As hearing protectors are tested to the new Standard they will be included in the Class list on the Internet. No further additions will be made to the Grade list. There are currently no laboratories in New Zealand able to test hearing protectors to the Standard. There are at least two laboratories in Australia testing to the current Standards and some overseas laboratories can do this.

Should you encounter a classified (rather than a graded) HPD which is not featured on the classified list enquiry's can be made to the Department of Labour Head Office who will be able to report on the current status of the device. (Note there may be a time lag between suppliers application and the actual listing)

Conclusion

Considerable change has been made to the process of assessing the effectiveness of hearing protectors and how the information is disseminated. Comprehensive information will be available on the web-site and an updated list of classified hearing protectors will gradually become available for the guidance of workers and other users as they are tested and the information is sent to the Department. Equipment suppliers have been advised of this new procedure and are currently having their devices tested.