technological advances have made available better sound-absorption material for insulating or muffling motors and gears in most equipment. still, given the function and size of filling equipment, noise levels generally exceed 90 dBA in this area. employees who are exposed to this level of noise for an 8-hour weighted average must be protected. good hearing protection programmes should include research on better ways to control nois; employee education on related health effects; personal noise protection; and training on how to use hearing protection devices, the wearing of which must be enforced in high noise areas. employee hearing must be routinely checked.