In high noise environments, like in noisy factories, demolition and Ring Ease Review road work where loud machines are being employed, the provision of ear plugs as noise protection through the employer are mandatory. Continuous noise that surpasses 70 dB in loudness can already damage the hearing and many young people who are blasting their ears off with their iPods and headphones have no idea that this damage is irreversible. The machos with their ear shattering stereo blasters installed in their cars are no better off.
To help protect the hearing of employees and businesses from legal litigation from their workforce, new laws have been introduced. These laws must be followed by all companies. In April 2006, the United Kingdom government has passed a new law, stating that every industrial plant or place of work where the noise level reaches measurements of 85 dB A, are required to provide their staff with adequate ear protection for free. Being that such earplugs are not really expensive, it may sound reasonable, but when worker numbers go over a thousand, that can become very costly, especially if the tear and wear of multi-use earplugs or the disposable foam ear plugs require constant purchases.
It is uncanny how many manufacturing plants reach levels that surpass the limitation and it is even scarier that the workers there were condemned to sure hearing impairments, unless they purchased industrial earplugs on their own account. Normally it is expected that the workers follow the advice to wear ear protection, but if they are supplied with ill fitting or uncomfortable industrial earplugs, then chances are some of the more seasoned employees will not follow the ruling. Whereas it is a requirement of the law that the hearing protection devices, such as industrial earplugs are supplied to the stuff, there is no mandatory usage of industrial earplugs imposed, like with protection helmets on construction sites.