We don't all have access to a Sound Level Meter when we're out and about. So can we easily know when it's time to pop in our faithful hearing protection?

That's where our Rough Guide to Calculating Loudness comes in.

It's very easy to use, no matter where you are because it's all based on how close you need to be to someone in order to hold a conversation. So why not memorise it now, ready for the next time you find yourself in noise.

Just how long can you spend in noise before risking damage to your hearing?

The following table is a summary of safe listening times taken from the Government's website on Noise At Work. Our handy table includes the sound levels in dB(A), safe listening times, and some examples of things that are typically that volume to help you put it in context.

According to the Health and Safety Executive around 1 million employees in Great Britain are exposed to levels of noise that put their hearing at risk. It is the largest cause of preventable hearing loss we have in the UK. So both employers and employees have legal responsibilities to prevent or reduce those risks to health and safety from exposure to noise. But how?

This article explains how to know if you are at risk from noise damage – whether at work or leisure – and what you can do about it.

We live in a noisy world. Some of us work in noisy environments. Others enjoy pastimes that expose them to intense noise. Not to mention the potential risk of MP3 players. So how can you know if you are really at risk or not?