Overview

Personnel protection equipment (PPE) encompasses various gear tailored to shield workers from occupational hazards, including safety glasses, gloves, helmets, and respiratory devices, each addressing specific workplace risks like impacts, chemicals, and respiratory hazards. Among these, hearing protection gear such as earplugs and earmuffs are crucial for preventing noise-induced hearing loss in noisy environments. Section 130.7(C)(5) in the 2024 version of NFPA 70E now mandates hearing protection for anyone within arc flash boundaries, irrespective of exposure duration or purpose for presence, enhancing safety against potential hearing damage.

Applying the 2024 Code

Personal protective equipment (PPE) encompasses a wide array of gear designed to shield workers from occupational hazards. Hearing protection gear, such as earplugs and earmuffs, holds particular importance as it aims to prevent noise-induced hearing loss in noisy work environments. Prolonged exposure to high noise levels can cause irreversible damage to hearing. By wearing hearing protection, workers can diminish their exposure to harmful noise levels, preserving their hearing health and overall well-being.

In earlier versions of NFPA 70E, Section 130.7 outlined the various forms of protection provided by PPE. Hearing protection was addressed in subsection (C)(5), which mandated adequate hearing protection for workers inside arc flash boundaries. However, the wording of this subsection was often interpreted narrowly, leading to hearing protection being worn only during extended periods within these boundaries. Consequently, workers passing through such zones were left vulnerable to loud noises and potential hearing damage. To rectify this problem, the 2024 version of NFPA 70E has revised this subsection. The updated language now mandates hearing protection for anyone within arc flash boundaries, irrespective of the purpose of their presence or expected duration of exposure. This revision aims to safeguard end users from potential hearing damage resulting from short-term exposure to loud noises.

What’s New for the 2024 NFPA 70E?

The table below presents a comparison between the 2021 NFPA 70E and the 2024 NFPA 70E regarding Section 130.7(C)(5).