HSE Reveal that 75% of Employees Lack Essential Knowledge about Hearing Protection

The Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) most recent inspection campaign (2025) has identified significant failings in workplace hearing protection, uncovering issues with employee training and equipment management.

Key Findings Revealed:

• 75% of employees lacked essential knowledge about storing, checking for damage or reporting faults with hearing protection

• 63% had not received guidance on continuous wearing during noise exposure

• 80% received no instruction on proper wearing techniques

• 95% of employers failed to verify workers could still hear vital warning signals when wearing hearing protection

Follow the "CUFF" Guidance

The HSE are therefore promoting the “CUFF” acronym as a checking system for good hearing protection:

C = Condition; is the hearing protection in good condition?

U = Use: are workers using the hearing protection all the times they should be?

F = Fit the ear; does the hearing protection fit the wearer?

F = Fit for purpose; have you selected hearing protection that gives the right level of noise reduction? A common misconception is that the highest hearing protection factor will be best, but this isn’t necessarily true. To stay safe on site, you should always be able to hear safety warnings and alarms. It is therefore advisable to select your hearing protection based on the nature of the job.

Here is a video by Jacqui Patel, HSE Noise & Vibration Specialist, explaining the CUFF concept in more detail: HSE | CUFF Video

The Last Line of Defence

Of course, as everyone knows, PPE is the last line of defence on the hierarchy of control, and so you must consider whether you can eliminate or substitute the hazard first. If you are unable to do this, you should consider what engineering controls are available to reduce noise exposure.

Here is a video explaining how engineering controls, such as noise control barriers and acoustic enclosures, can be used effectively on construction sites: HS2 | Balfour Beatty Noise Control Video.

If you are working on a project where noise is a challenge, please contact one of RVT’s specialist noise consultants: Contact a Noise Consultant

To view RVT’s full range of noise control equipment, please click here.