What type of hazard control is required hearing protection considered?

Hearing protection falls under the category of personal protective equipment (PPE) because it is designed to protect the individual from exposure to hazardous noise levels that could potentially lead to hearing loss or other auditory-related issues. Personal protective equipment includes various items such as gloves, helmets, goggles, and ear protection, which serve to safeguard workers from specific hazards present in their environment.

In the context of workplace safety, the implementation of PPE is often regarded as the last line of defense, utilized when other control measures such as engineering controls (which involve modifications to equipment or processes to reduce hazards) and administrative controls (which focus on changes to policies or procedures to minimize risk) are not feasible or adequately effective on their own. Thus, recognizing hearing protection as personal protective equipment highlights its importance in mitigating risks associated with high noise levels in the workplace.