1. 1. Avatar Consumer Products requires the wearing of personal hearing protection for the entire work shift by all employees in areas where the eight-hour time-weighted average sound level (TWA₈) (or its equivalent) equals or exceeds 85 dB(A).
   
2. All persons entering posted noise areas are to wear hearing protection regardless of the anticipated exposure period.
   
3. Hearing protection is provided at no cost for all employees in plant areas where the 8-hour time-weighted average sound level equals or exceeds 85 dB(A) (or equivalently a dose of fifty percent).
   
4. The initial set of hearing protectors (including earmuffs) must be fit by the Medical Department.
   
5. The use of personal radios, cassette/CD players, or similar devices equipped with headphones is PROHIBITED.

This policy does not apply to properly monitored radio headsets which are used for communication within a plant or are utilized as a part of the employee’s Job Function. Where the use of personal radios, cassette/CD players, or similar devices without headphones is allowed, the volume at which they are played MUST NOT result in elevating employee exposure to equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 dBA or result in requiring the use of personal hearing protection.