What is the required form of hearing protection for employees in high noise environments?

In high noise environments, standard earplugs or earmuffs are the preferred form of hearing protection due to their effectiveness in reducing sound levels. These devices are specifically designed to attenuate noise, protecting the ears from harmful sounds that can lead to hearing loss.

Standard earplugs fit inside the ear canal and can significantly reduce the intensity of sound reaching the inner ear. Earmuffs provide a seal around the ears and can be useful in various situations, especially when the noise levels exceed certain decibel levels that can cause damage.

Utilizing these forms of hearing protection ensures compliance with occupational health and safety regulations, which often mandate the use of appropriate protective equipment in environments with high noise exposure. In contrast, noise-cancelling headphones and musical headphones are generally not designed for occupational use and may not provide adequate protection against harmful noise levels. Defensive ear covers is a less common term and doesn't accurately reflect widely recognized protective equipment in workplace settings.