What does Dutch law say about hearing protection at work?

Yes, hearing protection can be mandatory at work. Under the Dutch Working Conditions Decree (Arbobesluit), your employer must provide hearing protectors when your daily exposure is above 80 dB(A). From 85 dB(A), you as an employee must wear them. And with the protection in your ears, your exposure must never be above 87 dB(A).

Those numbers are the start, not the whole story. The law also requires employers to map noise, tackle the source first, inform employees and make a hearing test possible. In this article, we set out all the rules on noise in the workplace, with the responsibilities of employer and employee and a step-by-step plan to arrange it in practice.

If your employer chooses custom earplugs, we take the ear impressions on site for 10 or more people, based on a quote. For one employee or a small team, it goes through a partner hearing centre. The ear impressions are then included in the price and payment goes through the hearing centre.

Where are the rules on noise at work?

The basis is the Dutch Working Conditions Act (Arbowet). Among other things, it states that every employer carries out a risk inventory and evaluation (RI&E), that employees use protective equipment correctly and that employees do not bear the costs of the working conditions rules. The specific rules on noise are in the Working Conditions Decree (Arbobesluit), chapter 6, section 3 (Articles 6.6 to 6.11). Arboportaal, the Dutch government's website on working conditions, summarises these rules.

The law calculates with daily exposure. That is the average noise level over an eight-hour working day, including short loud peaks. So a few minutes of very loud noise can count as heavily as a whole day of moderate noise. What dB(A) means exactly is explained in our glossary.

Exposure action values and limit value at a glance

The Working Conditions Decree uses two exposure action values and one exposure limit value. Besides the average level in dB(A), the law also looks at peak sound pressure, expressed in pascals (Pa). This is meant for short, loud bangs, such as hammer blows, metal parts striking each other or a shooting range.

What if the noise varies a lot from day to day?

For particular tasks where exposure varies considerably from one working day to the next, the Working Conditions Decree (Article 6.9) allows you to use a weekly average. Even then, weekly exposure, with the hearing protection taken into account, must not be above 87 dB(A).

Tackle the source first, then hearing protection

Hearing protection is important, but it is not the first step. Article 6.8 of the Working Conditions Decree says that an employer must first remove the risk at the source or limit it as much as possible. The law names measures such as these.

• other working methods that produce less noise;
• choosing quieter machines and tools;
• screening, enclosing or using sound-absorbing material;
• damping or isolating vibrations and structure-borne noise;
• good maintenance of machines and installations;
• limiting the duration of exposure, with enough rest breaks.

If it is still too loud after that, personal hearing protection is needed. Under the Working Conditions Decree, rest areas and break rooms must also have a noise level that suits their purpose.

Mapping noise with the RI&E and an action plan

Every employer records in writing in the RI&E which risks the work involves. For noise, Article 6.7 of the Working Conditions Decree means the following.

• noise levels are assessed and, if necessary, measured by an expert or an occupational health service (arbodienst);
• this happens periodically according to a fixed schedule, and again if the situation changes significantly;
• the assessment also looks at impulse noise, at-risk groups, the interaction between noise and warning signals and the availability of hearing protectors with enough attenuation;
• the works council (ondernemingsraad) or staff representatives may give their opinion on the measuring method and the choice of hearing protectors;
• the results are recorded and shared, with an explanation, with the works council, the staff representatives or the employees concerned.

The action plan (plan van aanpak) is part of the RI&E (Article 5 of the Working Conditions Act). It states which measures you take and by when.

Hearing test or audiometric testing

Anyone who works in noise has the right to a hearing test. The Working Conditions Decree (Article 6.10) makes a distinction.

• Above 85 dB(A) or 140 Pa, every employee gets the opportunity to have an audiometric test periodically.
• Above 80 dB(A) or 112 Pa, this right applies if the assessment and measurement show that there is a health risk.

The aim is to detect any decline in hearing early. The results go into a personal medical file, and you have the right to see it. If it turns out that someone has suffered hearing damage from work, the employer must measure again, review the measures and offer a new test to colleagues who were exposed in the same way (Article 6.10a).

Who does what? Employer and employee

Does the employer pay for hearing protection?

Yes. The employer pays for hearing protection that is needed because of noise at work, and employees may not be asked to contribute. Article 44 of the Working Conditions Act says that the costs of complying with the working conditions rules may not be charged to employees. And under Article 6.8 of the Working Conditions Decree, the employer provides the hearing protectors above 80 dB(A) or 112 Pa. Together, this means that the employer arranges and pays for the hearing protection.

That goes beyond the purchase. Under Article 8.3 of the Working Conditions Decree, personal protective equipment is maintained, kept clean and replaced where necessary. New filters, or a new pair if the old ones no longer seal properly, are part of that too. The hearing test that the employer must offer is also at the employer's expense.

The employer chooses the type of hearing protection based on the RI&E. The law does not prescribe custom earplugs. But the equipment must be suitable for the work and fit the wearer (Articles 8.1 and 8.2). If a standard earplug pinches or keeps falling out, report it, because then it is doubtful whether it still meets that requirement. None of this applies to hearing protection you only use privately, for example at a festival.

Whether your health insurer contributes and how the work-related costs scheme (werkkostenregeling) works out for the employer is explained in custom earplugs reimbursed?

Why choose custom hearing protection?

The Working Conditions Decree speaks of "properly fitted" hearing protectors. Under Article 8.1, personal protective equipment must also suit the wearer and meet ergonomic requirements. Hearing protection that pinches or keeps falling out is worn less. And hearing protection in your pocket does not protect you.

A custom earplug is made from an impression of the wearer's ear. At Audibling, this is done in our own lab in the Netherlands, Audiform in Kilder. Our custom earplugs are PPE-3 hearing protection, compliant with EN 352, and have certified filters. You choose the right interchangeable membrane filter for each workplace.

• DI for production, logistics, construction, food and pharma;
• DIM for work with impulse noise, such as at a shooting range, with extra protection against bangs;
• DR for offices, healthcare and education;
• DM for hospitality and events, where communication matters.

Read more about the attenuation of each filter in custom earplug filters explained and on our filter page. Do not automatically choose the strongest attenuation. People who can no longer hear colleagues and warning signals take their earplugs out sooner. That is another reason why the Working Conditions Decree asks for attention to the interaction between noise and warning signals.

Being recognisable helps too. With a logo print in your company colour, available from 10 pairs and patent pending, earplugs are less likely to get lost and more likely to find their way back to their owner. Read more in hearing protection with your logo.

Six steps to get it right

1. Map the noise. Have the noise levels for each workplace or job assessed and measured as part of the RI&E.
2. Tackle the source. Look at quieter machines, screening, maintenance and work schedules.
3. Choose suitable hearing protection for each workplace. Match the attenuation to the measurement results. See our hearing protection for work, for example earplugs for construction or earplugs for food and pharma.
4. Have everyone's ear impressions taken. For 10 or more people, we come to your workplace. Smaller teams go to a partner hearing centre. The custom earplugs are ready about three weeks after the ear impressions are taken.
5. Provide information and mark the zones. Explain why and when hearing protection is needed and how to insert it correctly.
6. Keep checking. Offer the hearing test, have the fit checked regularly with a fit check and update the RI&E when something changes. Also read how long custom earplugs last.

Want to tick off these steps with your team? Download our checklist for hearing protection in the workplace. It contains the points from the Working Conditions Decree with tick boxes, an action list and the sources.

Want to know what this costs for your team? The calculator on our business page gives you an estimate straight away. Custom earplugs for businesses start at €148 per person, excl. VAT.

Frequently asked questions

Is hearing protection mandatory from 80 or from 85 dB(A)?

Above 80 dB(A), the employer must provide hearing protection. From 85 dB(A), employees must actually wear it. For short, loud bangs, separate peak values of 112 Pa and 140 Pa apply.

Does the employer also pay for custom earplugs?

If custom earplugs are the suitable hearing protection for your work, the employer pays for them. The employer chooses the type based on the RI&E. Asking you to contribute is not allowed, because Article 44 of the Working Conditions Act puts the costs on the employer.

How do I know how much noise there is at my workplace?

That follows from the assessment and measurement in the RI&E. Under the Working Conditions Decree, the results must be shared, with an explanation, with the works council, the staff representatives or the employees concerned. So feel free to ask about them.

What if I don't wear my hearing protection?

From 85 dB(A), you must wear hearing protection, and the Working Conditions Act requires employees to use protective equipment correctly. If your earplug is uncomfortable, report it. Well-fitting custom earplugs can help.

Sources

• Arboportaal, Wat zegt de wet over lawaai op het werk? (what the law says about noise at work, in Dutch) (accessed 4 October 2026)
• Arbeidsomstandighedenbesluit (Working Conditions Decree), chapter 6, section 3 (Art. 6.6 to 6.11) and Art. 8.1 to 8.3, via wetten.overheid.nl, in Dutch
• Arbeidsomstandighedenwet (Working Conditions Act), Art. 5, 11 and 44, via wetten.overheid.nl, in Dutch
• Arbocatalogus Grafimedia, Toepassen van gehoorbescherming (using hearing protection, in Dutch)

Last updated 7 October 2026