Noise safety… keeping you safe and sound

Protecting employees’ hearing should be a top priority for any employer, especially if you work in an industry with certain levels of noise. However, it may surprise you how easy these levels are to reach. 

As an employer, it is your responsibility to put health and safety measures in place and carry out the correct procedures. If you do not, you could find yourself in hot water and with employees with life changing injuries.

What regulations are there surrounding noise exposure?

The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 came into force with the aim of ensuring workers' hearing is protected from excessive noise at their place of work. This regulation outlines requirements for employers, depending on the sound level. These sound levels are measured both as weekly averages and as a peak sound pressure.

At 80dB(A), or a peak sound of 135dB, employers must assess the risk to workers' health and provide them with information and training where necessary. At a weekly or daily average of 85dB(A), or a peak sound pressure of 137dB, the regulation requires employers to provide hearing protection equipment and zones.

The Control of Noise at Work Regulation also sets out an exposure limit value – which is the limit for which workers should be exposed to, even with the reduction in sound provided by hearing protection. This limit is an average of 87dB or a peak sound pressure of 140dB – workers should not be exposed to anything above this.

What is this level equivalent to?

These levels of sound are not excessively high and may be easier reached than you realise. To give you a bit of an understanding, we have laid out the noise generated in some common scenarios.

• Rustling leaves are 10dB
• A whisper is 20-30dB
• Normal conversation is 60dB
• Vacuum cleaner is 70dB
• The average alarm clock is 80dB
• Lawnmowers, power tools, blenders and hairdryers are 90dB
• Handheld drill is 100dB
• Chainsaws are 110dB
• Jackhammers are 130dB
• Fireworks and gunshots are 140dB

Working out your exposure levels

So, how do you know if your workers are exposed to the limit and if protection needs to be put in place?

The HSE have outlined some quick indicators that might suggest you have a noise issue in your workplace. They are as follows:

• The noise is intrusive or worse for most of the working day (think busy road or vacuum cleaner noise levels).
• Employees have to raise their voices to carry out a normal conversation when 2m apart.
• Your employees use loud power tools or machinery for more than half an hour a day.
• Your sector is known for noisy tasks e.g construction, demolition, engineering, manufacturing etc.
• There are noises due to impacts such as hammering or explosive sources.

If one or more of these apply to your workplace, then it may suggest you have a noise issue and this is something you will need to look into further to ensure you are providing the correct protection for your workers.

As an employer, it is your responsibility to make a reliable and representative estimate of your worker's daily personal noise exposure. Daily personal noise exposure is a combination of how loud and how long someone is exposed to various sounds in a day.

An easy place to start is to think about work that is likely to be done, the way it is done, and how it might vary from one day to the next. Once you know what work is to be done, you can assign a noise level for each job. You may be able to calculate this from HSE industry-specific guidance or have data from others in the industry or suppliers etc. Alternatively, you can take your own measurements in the workplace.

HSE has a tool you can use if you need support calculating noise exposure for your employees. Try it here.

Impact of not following noise exposure regulations

To put it simply, not following noise regulations can cost someone their hearing. Long-term exposure to noise can cause gradual hearing loss but damage can also occur suddenly if exposed to an extremely loud noise. It is not just hearing loss that can be the issue – people may also develop tinnitus which can be a distressing condition leading to disturbed sleep.

The impact of the damage will depend on the noise level and length of exposure…

• 80 dB can cause possible damage in 8 hours
• 90 dB is likely to cause damage with 8-hour exposure.
• 100 dB will cause serious damage in 8 hours.

Any sounds over 85 dB can cause permanent hearing loss if exposed for extended periods of time. It doesn’t take much - over 30 minutes is enough to cause some degree of damage.

Sounds over 110 dB can be dangerous if exposed to them for longer than 30 seconds.

Those exposed to sounds over 120 dB should use hearing protection or avoid it completely if possible.

Beyond the physical damage

It also goes beyond physical issues. Excessive noise levels can interfere with communications and make instructions and warnings harder to hear, as well as making people less aware of their surroundings. This, overall, can impact safety in the workplace and in worst-case scenarios, this can lead to serious injuries or death.

It is also a given that there can be significant fines if you are found to not be complying.

How can you protect employees and your responsibility as an employer?

As an employer, there are six key steps that you can take in order to be compliant with the regulations:

1. Assess risks to employees
2. Take action to try and reduce noise where possible
3. Provide hearing protection where noise can’t be reduced
4. Ensure limits are not exceeded
5. Provide employees with information and training
6. Carry out health surveillance where a risk has been identified

How CT Health & Safety can support you

If you have questions regarding noise safety in your organisation and how to protect your staff, please send an email to clive@cthealthandsafety.com or call Clive on 07956 074798. 

Clive will offer bespoke advice and guidance that's relevant to your organisation.