Noise Assessments

It is a legal requirement for employers to assess the risk to employees exposure to excessive noise in noisy workplaces. In order to identify the type and levels of noise a noise assessment should be carried out. Compass can assist employers to identify noisy workplaces, sources and levels of noise as well as noise reduction techniques and ensuing the correct hearing protection is provided.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) states that a Noise at Work Assessment must be undertaken if an employee is likely to be exposed to noise at or above lower exposure action values.  The Health and Safety Executive Guidance advises that if the workplace is noisier than everyday life, it is possible that the lower limit will be exceeded.  The lower limit of 80 dB(A) is roughly equivalent to the noise level of a busy road, crowded restaurant or vacuum cleaner.

A noise at work assessment involves a visit to site and a written report which includes:

• A description of the workplace, including the various working areas, activities undertaken and employees included in the assessment;
• The time and date(s) of the assessment;
• Identifying the areas where upper or lower limits are exceeded;
• Calculation of daily personal noise exposures (including peak exposure) of the employees;
• Details of any measurements taken during the assessment; and
• If required, a noise map and identification of hearing protection zones.

What are the upper and lower Action Values?

The limits in the regulations are in the table below:

Where noise exposure levels vary significantly from day to day, a weekly exposure level can be calculated instead.

Can we just supply our employees with hearing protection rather than carrying out a noise at work assessment?

When calculating an employee’s daily or weekly exposure, the protection provided by hearing defenders or earplugs may not be taken into account.  Hearing protection should only be used either as an interim measure while noise control measures are implemented, or where additional protection is required on top that achieved by noise control measures.

What does a Noise at Work assessment include?

• A description of the workplace, including the various working areas, activities undertaken and employees included in the assessment;
• The time and date(s) of the assessment;
• Identifying the areas where upper or lower limits are exceeded;
• Calculation of daily personal noise exposures (including peak exposure) of the employees;
• Details of any measurements taken during the assessment; and
• If required, a noise map and identification of hearing protection zones.

What equipment will you use to carry out the noise assessment?

Depending on the type of work carried out and whether workers are in static positions or not we might use a Class 2 sound analyser or dosemeters which are worn in the hearing zone of the individual workers. We may use a combination of the two types of meters.

What can I do to reduce noise exposure?

Where a noise at work assessment has been undertaken, Compass can provide advice on minimising employees’ exposure to noise.  Specific examples include job rotation, change to quieter machine, workplace design, machine design or noise control (enclosure, acoustic haven).

Compass have significant experience in the specification and design of noise control in order to reduce noise at source.  Where technical noise control has been implemented but employee noise exposure levels are still above limits, Compass can provide guidance on the selection of appropriate hearing protection.

How often does a Noise at Work assessment need to be taken?

The Regulations specify that a Noise at Work assessment should be reviewed and updated where a change in the workplace has occurred (i.e. new equipment, changes to working patterns) which may alter the noise exposure of an employee.

Where there have been no changes, a review should be undertaken at least every two years.

What is a noise audit?

A noise audit is a comprehensive noise review of a factory or process facility.  They are more detailed than noise at work assessments, whereby all equipment or processes emitting noise above the action values are identified.  Once identified, noise control measures are proposed and given high, medium and low priority status based on;

• Equipment or process noise levels;
• Number of employees affected;
• Duration of noise; and
• Cost to mitigate.