Noise
Noise
Exposure to high noise levels can cause serious hearing damage. New legislation, the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005, has been enacted to protect workers by ensuring that noise levels at work do not pose a risk to health. This new legislation replaces the Noise at Work Regulations 1989.
The main changes from the previous legislation are the setting of new Action Levels and Limit Values for noise at workplaces.
|
Old Regulations |
Noise Levels (DeciBels - dB) |
New Regulations |
|
2nd Action Level (Peak - C) |
140 dB(C) |
2nd Action Level (Peak - C) |
| 135 db(C) |
1st Action Level (Peak - C) |
|
|
2nd Action Level LEP,d (8 hour working day) |
90 dB(A) | |
| 87 dB(A) |
Maximum Exposure Limit Value (8 Hour working day) |
|
|
1st Action Level LEP,d (8 hour working day) |
85 dB(A) |
2nd Action Level LEX (8 hour working day) |
| 80 dB(A) |
1st Action Level LEX (8 hour working day) |
Further guidance on these new values can be found in the HSE guidance document for 2005 entitled Noise at work (PDF, 396 KB)
Action by heads
The Head of the School/Unit should ensure that appropriate measures are taken to comply with relevant University guidance. This requires that noise surveys, and if necessary noise risk assessments, are performed by a 'competent' person wherever it is suspected that noise levels may pose a risk to health. Environmental, Health and Safety Services will arrange for noise surveys to be carried out on request.
Where ear protection is specified as a control measure in a noise risk assessment, the Head of the School/Unit should ensure that all users are given appropriate instruction and training in the use and maintenance of the equipment provided and that records of all such instruction and training are kept by the School.
Guidance on noise at work is given in the relevant HSE documents (see below). It is expected that Heads will take account of any such guidance and ensure that all control measures, deemed by a noise risk assessment to be necessary for health and safety, are implemented.
Guidance documents
The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005. Published by HMSO ISBN: 0110729846.
Health and Safety Executive - Noise Website
Controlling noise at work. Guidance on the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 (L108). Published by the Health and Safety Executive Books, ISBN 0-7176-6164-4.
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Noise at work (PDF, 396 KB)