How do I comply with the Noise at Work Regulations? To comply with the Noise at Work Regulations, employers must assess noise exposure, reduce noise at source where reasonably practicable, manage remaining risk with organisational controls and hearing protection, train workers, keep records, and review assessments when conditions change.
Top 5 Reasons to Monitor Noise at Work
Every employer knows that there are a million and one things that need thinking about when it comes to employee Health & Safety.
And, as the old adage goes: ‚’out of sight is out of mind’. Unfortunately, this is particularly true in the case of perhaps the most consistently overlooked area of Health & Safety – Noise at Work. Below are the top 5 reasons to safeguard your employees and yourself through monitoring your workplace noise levels:
Noise-induced hearing loss – excessive exposure to noise can permanently damage a person’s hearing, as well as inducing tinnitus. Both can drastically alter quality of life and are easily prevented. Noise at work needn’t be unbearably loud to warrant action; consistent exposure to high levels over time will also likely lead to noise-induced hearing loss. Nowadays, noise is best thought of in terms of daily and weekly ‚’dosages’ (kind of like vitamins…). Check out your recommended dosages here.
It’s the law – aside from being conscientious and providing a comfortable working environment, employers also have a legal obligation to protect the aural health of their workers. The Noise at Work Act (2005) came into effect on April 6th 2006, with the UK Health & Safety Executive outlining the steps employers need to take.
Where there’s blame… – in light of the relatively new laws, noise-induced hearing loss and industrial deafness claims are on the rise. It is thought that approximately 80,000 new noise at work related claims were made last year.
Longterm expense – prevention is better than cure, and it’s not just the employee who pays the cost for inadequate protection from noise at work. It has been estimated that even a mild noise-induced hearing loss with tinnitus may incur an employer a minimum of ¬£4,000 should they be found to be legally at fault. With the upper ceiling of claims being recorded at up to ¬£60,000, it pays to take every precaution possible.
Happy workers – good employers know that happy workers means increased productivity. The stresses and quality of life impact, which can result from excessive noise at work, can have a severe effect on both workers and the workplace. Make sure that you’re protecting your workers, reputation and business.
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What does a workplace noise survey measure? A workplace noise survey measures average noise exposure over time (dB(A)) and peak or impact noise (dB(C)) to determine whether workers exceed UK legal action values under the Control of Noise at Work Regulations.
Do I need a noise at work risk assessment or a noise survey? If workers may be exposed to harmful noise (around 80 dB(A) or above), UK law requires a noise at work risk assessment. If exposure cannot be confidently estimated, a noise survey with measurements is required to demonstrate compliance.