Noise At Work
THE LAW
Significant changes to the Noise at Work Regulations came into force in Spring 2006 yet, even now in 2021; many companies have yet to comply with the changes and are at serious risk from prosecution.
It is estimated that 170,000 people suffer from deafness, tinnitus or other ear conditions as a result of exposure to excessive noise in the workplace. Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) is one of the most common causes of disability in the UK, and the Noise Regulations aim to reduce the numbers affected. Are you ready to make a positive difference in your workplace?
What do the regulations require you to do?
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.
WHAT ARE THE ACTION VALUES 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(A)
- peak sound pressure of 135 dB(C)
upper exposure action values:
- daily or weekly exposure of 85 dB(A)
- peak sound pressure of 137 dB(C).
BESPOKE ASSESSMENTS
We can tailor a noise assessment of your workplace to ensure you have the appropriate measures in place. Our assessment complies with HSE guidance for employers – “Noise Assessments, Getting What You Need”. It is carried out by one of our competent noise specialists. Do not confuse a cheap noise survey with a competent noise survey. Several clients using us for the first time have commented how good our noise survey is when compared to what they have had done before.
Commonly, noise assessments take between one and two days to carry out and complete, depending on the size of your organisation and scope of noise.
BI-ANNUAL REVIEW
Please note, a two yearly review of your noise assessment should be carried out and more often if there are any significant changes in the workplace during this time.
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Contact Us
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