A Hearing Protection Zone (HPZ) is any area where noise reaches or exceeds the upper exposure action value of 85 dB(A) (or a peak of 137 dB(C)). In an HPZ, wearing hearing protection is not optional — it is mandatory.
What the law requires in an HPZ
- The zone must be clearly marked with the standard mandatory blue “ear protection must be worn” sign.
- Its boundary should be defined so everyone knows where protection starts and stops.
- Access should be restricted so far as is reasonably practicable, and anyone entering — including visitors and contractors — wears protection.
Signage on its own is not compliance
Marking a zone does not discharge your duty to reduce the noise. The Regulations expect you to control exposure at source first — enclosures, screens, damping, quieter processes — and use HPZs and hearing protection to manage the risk that remains. A site that relies on ear defenders alone, with no attempt to reduce the noise itself, is not compliant.
Choosing the right protection
Hearing protectors are rated by attenuation (for example an SNR value), but real-world performance is lower than the lab figure — fit, comfort and consistent use matter enormously. The aim is to bring the level at the ear down to a safe range (broadly 70–80 dB(A)), not to over-protect to the point where people cannot hear warnings and take the protectors off.
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