[Noise related risk: assessment of the efficacy of the prevention in the light of the new legislation].

Italian law on occupational exposure to noise identify 87 dBA as ceiling exposure level and 80 dBA as action level; the respect of ceiling level can be achieved by using devices, as ear plugs, whose efficacy must be verified. We studied 8119 audiometric of workers exposed to noise between 80 and 87 dBA. The hearing level of those who use ear plugs is significantly better than who don't use. Different devices show different efficacy, but for all, in the exposure setting studied, the level of protection that is provided is enough safe for othological protection. The workers must be informed about the efficacy of the protection and sensibilized to the use of the ear plugs within the periodical clinical surveillance.