Lesson 2: Control of Noise Control of noise at work regulations 2005
Guidelines on how to reduce exposure to noise at work to ensure workers hearing is protected from excessive noise
- Daily/personal u2013 weighted over course of day (8 hour)
- (A) weighting used for daily/personal measurements as it adjusts for sound pressure levels to reflect the sensitivity of the human ear
- (C) weighting used for peak sound pressure (shortened for LcPeak)
Biological agents
- Lower exposure action value
- Daily/personal 80dB(A)
- Peak sound pressure 135dB(C)
- Upper exposure actional value
- Daily/personal 85dB(A)
- Peak sound pressure 137 dB(C)
- Exposure limit values
- Daily/personal 87dB(A)
- Peak sound pressure 140dB(C)
Control of noise at work regulations
- Regulation 5: risk assessment
- Regulation 6: Eliminate noise where possible, otherwise reduce to ALARP
- Regulation 9: health surveillance
- Regulation 10: Information and training
Health surveillance
- Health surveillance is suggested when risk assessment indicates that there is a risk to health u2013 risk assessment should not take into account risk protection i.e. headphones
- Otherwise
- If upper exposure action value is regularly reached (i.e. >85dB(A)
- If upper exposure action value is occasionally reached or between 80-85dB(A)
- If the individual is particularly sensitive to noise
- Health surveillance involves audiometry and questionnaire
- Baseline assessment (audiometry should be done), then annually for 2 years & 3 yearly thereafter
- Audiometry should be done 12-16 hours before or after shift & done designated person in charge (doesnu2019t have to be doctor)
- If audiometry is abnormal should be escalated to pure tone audiometry
- Referral to doctor if required if has category 3 or 4 or 5 u2013 5 is unilateral hearing loss)
Controls to reduce noise
- Look at source, noise path and receiver to try and see where controls can reduce noise
- Elimination: remove at source e.g. automation
- Substitution: quiet equipment
- Engineering controls: sound dampeners
- Administrative: work schedule, information, instruction, and training
- PPE: hearing protection