European Directive 2003/10/EC.

The Member States are to comply with this Directive before 15 February 2006.
The main changes brought by Directive 2003/10/EC on noise exposure are the more stringent action levels which decreased from (85 dB(A) and 90 dB(A)) to 80 dB(A) and 85 dB(A)) respectively.
As a consequence employers will have to ensure that from 15 February 2006 (the deadline for transposal of the Directive into the legislation of Member States), they take the following actions where noise exposure of employees, not taking account of hearing protection, exceeds 80 dB(A) and 112 Pascal:

• availability of hearing protectors;
• provision of information and training
• availability of audiometric testing where there is a risk to health (where noise exceed 80db(A) during the working day).