Berkshire Health and Safety



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Noise

See also: Occupational Health

Introduction

The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 (Noise Regulations 2005) require employers to prevent or reduce risks to health and safety from exposure to noise at work. Employees have duties under the Regulations too. The Regulations require you as an employer to:

Assess the risks to your employees from noise at work;
Take action to reduce the noise exposure that produces those risks;
Provide your employees with hearing protection if you cannot reduce the noise exposure enough by using other methods;
Make sure the legal limits on noise exposure are not exceeded;
Provide your employees with information, instruction and training;
Carry out health surveillance where there is a risk to health.

The Regulations do not apply to:

members of the public exposed to noise from their non-work activities, or making an informed choice to go to noisy places;
low-level noise that is a nuisance but causes no risk of hearing damage.

Employers in the music and entertainment sectors have until 6 April 2008 to comply with the Noise Regulations 2005. Meanwhile they must continue to comply with the Noise at Work Regulations 1989, which the 2005 Regulations replace for all other workplaces.

More information about noise at work in the music and entertainment sector

Noise levels

What are the action levels and limit values?

The Noise Regulations require you to take specific action at certain action values. These relate to:

the levels of exposure to noise of your employees averaged over a working day or week; and
the maximum noise (peak sound pressure) to which employees are exposed in a working day.

The values are:

lower exposure action values:

daily or weekly exposure of 80 dB;
peak sound pressure of 135 dB;

upper exposure action values:

daily or weekly exposure of 85 dB;
peak sound pressure of 137 dB.

The actions you need to take are described in the rest of the employers' web pages. The flow chart in Figure 1 will also help you decide what you need to do.

There are also levels of noise exposure which must not be exceeded. These are called exposure limit values:

daily or weekly exposure of 87 dB;
peak sound pressure of 140 dB.

Exposure to high noise levels can cause incurable hearing damage. Usually the important factors are:

The noise level (given in decibels, as dB(A))
The extent of exposure.

The damage involves loss of hearing ability, sometimes made worse by permanent "ringing in the ears" (tinnitus).

Checklist - noise

1.	Do you have a possible noise problem?	YES	NO
2.	Have you had the noise exposure assessed by a competent person?	YES	NO
3.	Where a noise problem is confirmed have you:
	kept a record of the assessment?	YES	NO
	Provided information to employees?	YES	NO
	Provided, maintained and ensured use of ear protectors (as applicable)?	YES	NO
	Reduced the risk of hearing damage to the lowest level reasonably practicable?	YES	NO
	Reduced exposure to noise as far as is reasonably practicable by means other than ear protectors?	YES	NO
	Marked ear protection zones and ensured use of ear protectors within them?	YES	NO

References / Further Details

Guidance on the Control of Noise at Work Regulations is provided in

Controlling noise at work. Guidance on the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005. L108, ISBN 0 7176 6164 4 HSE Books

This book replaces the 1998 edition of L108 Reducing Noise at Work. Guidance on the Noise

at Work Regulations (ISBN 0 7176 1511 1).

HSE’s free employers leaflet Noise at Work - Advice for employers INDG362 (rev 1)
This leaflet is for employers on good practice and considering what they need to do

HSE's free pocket card Protect your hearing or lose it! INDG363
Contains notes on good practice which you may find helpful.



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