Organization Unit Public Health & Safety Department

Guidelines for Personal Protective Equipment –

Form sheet title:
Hearing Protection
Doc Ref. DM-PH&SD-P4-TG10

Background: Noise is defined as unwanted sound and reaches the ear in the form of
pressure waves. Exposure to excessive noise results in the destruction
of hair-like cells in the ear canal. Once cells have been destroyed the
effect is permanent. Noise can produce an impairment of hearing
which is known as noise induced deafness which can be either
temporary or permanent depending on the type and the amount of
exposure. When engineering controls are not feasible as a permanent
method of elimination or attenuation of noise at its source, personal
protective devices for noise control are required to be worn. The
employers shall identify the high noise level areas and provide hearing
protectors - ear muff or ear plug. Hearing protectors - personal
protective devices shall conform to approved Standards. Dubai Local
Order No. 61 of 1991 requires the control of noise, exposure period
and the use of personal protective device by workers in a noisy
workplace.

Guidelines:

1. Where it is not possible to reduce the noise levels to permissible noise exposure
levels or duration of exposures to those specified in Table - 1, ear protective
devices shall be provided and used.

2. Ear muffs or ear plugs shall be issued and used on individual basis.

3. The ear muff shall be made of rigid plastic cups filled with fluid or foam
designed to cover completely the external ears and held in place by a adjustable
head band. The cup shall have a cushion round the edge to ensure a good seal
between the cup and the head.

4. Ear plugs:

i. The ear plugs must fit tightly in the ear canal - moulded or formable type.

ii. The ear plugs shall be inserted with hands free of dirt or grease.

iii. Plain cotton wool plugs are not acceptable.

3/1:‫الصفحة‬ 2010 ‫أبريل‬:‫تاريخ اإلصدار‬ 2 : ‫رقم اإلصدار‬

 Organization Unit Public Health & Safety Department
Guidelines for Personal Protective Equipment –
Form sheet title:
Hearing Protection
Doc Ref. DM-PH&SD-P4-TG10

iv. Ear plugs are only suitable for those involved in infrequent noise
exposure.

5. In high noise level areas in industrial premises, a notice “WEAR EAR

PROTECTION” shall be exhibited.

6. As a thumb rule, if there is interference in the general communication of two

persons at a distance of 1 metre (arm’s length) in the workplace, then the noise
level is more than 90 dBA. In that case, noise level should be measured in the
work place.

7. An audimetric testing program shall be initiated and maintained for employees

who are potentially exposed to noise levels in excess of 90 d BA.

8. Further References:

American Standard ANSI S 3.19

British Standard for Hearing Protection

FURTHER INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE FROM

PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY DEPARTMENT
Tel: 2064244 / 2064282 FAX: 2270160

3/2:‫الصفحة‬ 2010 ‫أبريل‬:‫تاريخ اإلصدار‬ 2 : ‫رقم اإلصدار‬

 Organization Unit Public Health & Safety Department
Guidelines for Personal Protective Equipment –
Form sheet title:
Hearing Protection
Doc Ref. DM-PH&SD-P4-TG10

Table 1

Noise Control

Exposure Period of a Worker in a Noisy Workplace

Maximum Number
Sound Level in Decibel of hours of exposure
per employee per
workday
More than 87 but not more than 90 8

More than 90 but not more than 92 6

More than 92 but not more than 95 4

More than 95 but not more than 97 3

More than 97 but not more than 100 2

More than 100 but not more than 102 1.5

More than 102 but not more than 105 1.0

More than 105 but not more than 110 0.5

More than 110 but not more than 115 0.25

More than 115 0

3/3:‫الصفحة‬ 2010 ‫أبريل‬:‫تاريخ اإلصدار‬ 2 : ‫رقم اإلصدار‬