Summary Of The Noise At Work Regulations
The Regulations came into force on the 6th April 2006, except for the music and entertainment sectors where they come into force on 6th April 2008. The exposure limits values only, will be applied to the master and crew of sea-going ships, from 6th April 2011.
Exposure Level |
Daily or weekly personal noise exposure |
Peak sound pressure |
|---|---|---|
Lower exposure action values |
80 dB(A) |
135 dB(C) |
Upper exposure action values |
85 dB(A) |
137 dB(C) |
Exposure limit values |
87 dB(A) |
140 dB(C) |
Where employees are exposed to noise at or above the lower exposure action value (80dB A), the employer needs to make a suitable assessment of the risk to the health of those employees.
Steps must be taken to eliminate or reduce the noise to a low a level as is reasonably practical.
At the upper exposure action value, an employer must reduce employee's exposure to noise to as a low a level as is reasonably practicable. This involves putting in organisational and technical measures e.g. shifts and breaks, design and layout of premises, enclosing machinery.
Hearing protection must be made available on request to employees exposed to noise at or above the lower exposure action value (80dB A). Personal hearing protection must be provided to all employees working exposed to noise at or above the upper exposure action value (85dB A). Hearing Protection Zones, where noise is at or above the upper exposure value (85dB A), should be designated with signs.
Employers need to maintain equipment provided by them to control noise, except hearing protectors. Employees are responsible for using and maintaining the hearing protection provided to them.
Where the risk assessment indicates a risk to health for employees, the employer must ensure that those employees are placed in a suitable health surveillance program. This is principally for workers in noise at or above the upper exposure action value (85dB A), but also for individuals sensitive to noise who work at levels between lower and upper exposure action values.
Employers must provide suitable information, instruction and training to employees exposed to noise at or above the lower exposure action value (80dB A).
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