Noise management and assessment at work is falls under Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005. Employers have a responsibility to ensure that employees are not exposed to levels of noise which may have detrimental effects on their hearing.
Noise induced hearing loss can occur in employees who are exposed to extremely high levels of noise over a short period of time, or somewhat high levels over a longer term.
If you are concerned that you may have a noise problem, for example if employees have to raise their voices to be heard, or employees use noisy tools or machinery for more than half an hour each day, a noise risk assessment will help you decide whether further action is needed, and how you will plan to do so. Your risk assessment must be carried out by a competent person.
We provide consultants who are BOHS-qualified and accredited, competent and experienced in noise assessment.
We can carry out an initial survey to ascertain whether you have a noise problem and if so, we will carry out a full noise risk assessment.
We can provide a full report of the results along with advice on how to mitigate exposure and reduce noise where reasonably practicable.
If noise levels and exposure cannot be reduced we will advise on suitable hearing protection for your employees.
If you work in a particularly noisy environment, it may be appropriate to carry out health monitoring for your employees – for example periodic hearing tests to determine any deterioration over time. Safety Concepts can advise you on this.
Noise-induced hearing loss is a debilitating and entirely avoidable impairment. As an employer you have a duty to protect your employees, and you need to be able to demonstrate that you have taken all possible measures to prevent exposure to noise.
A noise risk assessment will allow you to determine whether your employees are at risk from noise, and from there reduce exposure and introduce further control measures.
No. Your noise measurements must be taken with a calibrated, industry-standard noise meter. Noise measurement apps are for recreational use only and cannot be relied upon. Measurements taken this way would not stand up as evidence in a court in the event of action being taken against you.
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