Ear defenders should not just damp as much noise as possible. You should always be able to communicate with other people on site and hear if anybody is shouting a warning.

• There are different ear defenders to choose from. The two most common are earplugs and earmuffs.
• Earplugs typically damp 10-20 dB(A), while earmuffs typically damp 20-30 dB(A).
• It is important to maintain your ear defenders. You cannot share them with your colleagues at work. If you wear earplugs, your hands must be clean when you put them in. The earplugs must not be dirty and result in you getting dirt in your ears.
• It may be a good idea to wear earmuffs. The earmuffs should also be cleaned so that they fit snugly over your ears. This also makes them easier to use and allows them to damp noise more effectively.
• If you take off your ear defenders – even just for a short time – you lose as much as 10% of their effect. So it is best to keep them on.