Highways contractor, Galliford Try, has implemented a new mandate on all of its sites to adopt active hearing protection from July 1st.

The measure are to become part of the business’s standard PPE requirements to try to cut out noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), which is the most commonly reported occupational disease in Europe.

Working on a highways sit makes it more imperative for operatives to be constantly aware of ambient noise, while also protecting themselves.

Galliford Try has adopted smart-technology company Eave’s Active Ear Defenders, which use a best-in-class ‘hear-through’ technology. Unlike standard passive ear defenders, the Eave solution allows the wearer to continue to hear environmental sound, significantly improving the safety of workers.

These smart headsets also monitor and map noise exposure, displaying it via a Cloud-based software platform, allowing the business to analyse in real time each worker’s noise exposure across a site.

Mark Bridges, health and safety manager at Galliford Try Highways, said: “We have a duty to provide our workers with the best-possible protection against hazards. What we are trying to do is create a movement for change in the industry. A lot of the team on site really appreciate putting their hearing protection on and still being able to hear their environment. When you ally this with the ability to constantly monitor their exposure, the benefits of Eave’s approach are really apparent.”

Chief Executive of Eave, David Greenberg, , said: “We have been working with Galliford Try’s highways suppliers to ensure they are ready for 1 July, with the correct protection in place for workers. It’s been inspiring to work with Mark as we share a similar passion to go beyond the bare minimum to protect the hearing of workers in hazardous noise. In today’s digital world when the technology available can do so much more to properly protect workers, we need to take action.”