Noise Risk Assessment – Noise at Work Regulations

What is a Noise Risk Assessment?

Noise Risk Assessments are a health and safety risk assessment specifically pertinent to noise exposure in the workplace for employees and assesses whether your existing employees are being subjected to excessive noise levels when calculated over a normalised eight hour time period. General research in this area indicates that noise induced hearing loss is related to the amount of sound energy entering the ear over an extended period of time, however the impact of sudden high intensity noise levels is also considered as part of the assessment.

Our Noise Risk Assessments are carried out by our own experienced acousticians who are Members of The Institute of Acoustics

Why carry out a Noise Risk Assessment?

A Noise Risk Assessment is undertaken to ensure that noise levels within the workplace are within the legal requirements to comply with the Noise at Work Regulations (2005). The need to carry out a Noise Risk Assessment is now regulatory in most places of work, both industrial or commercial including

• Factories
• Call Centres & Offices
• Night Clubs & Bars
• Train, Air & Road transport services

We offer

• Services throughout the UK
• Competitive fixed prices
• Fast turn-around from survey to report
• Minimal disruption to your working day

A Noise Survey Will Include

• Noise logging to designated working areas
• A full acoustic report in accordance with The Noise at Work Regulations (2005)
• Analysis of noise exposure levels to employees
• Recommended mitigation measures within your work place
• Recommended hearing protection measures for employees

As an employer you should

• Identify that noise levels do not exceed the legal requirements of the Noise at Work Regulations (2005)
• To identify the exposure of excessive noise to all employees
• Assess the risks to your employees from noise at work against current regulations
  
• Identify measures to eliminate or reduce risks from exposure to noise in order to protect the hearing of your employees from permanent damage
• Establish whether noise-control measures or hearing protection are required and, if so, what mitigation measures should be applied
• Identify any employees who need to be provided with health surveillance and whether any have particular health risks
• To satisfy the requirements of your Company Insurance

Noise at Work Regulations – The Action Levels – When do you need to take action?

An action level is a noise exposure level at which employers are required to take certain steps to reduce the harmful effects of noise on hearing. There are two main action levels for continuous noise

• The lower exposure action level is a daily or weekly average noise exposure level of 80 dB, at which the employer has to provide information and training and make hearing protection available.
• The upper exposure action level is set at a daily or weekly average noise exposure of 85 dB, above which the employer is required to take reasonable measures to reduce noise exposure, such as engineering noise control, noise at source etc. The use of hearing protection is also mandatory if the noise cannot be controlled by these measures, or while these measures are being planned or carried out.
• Lastly there is an exposure limit of 87 dB, above which no worker can be exposed (taking hearing protection into account).

If you would like us to clarify this more for you then please call us on 0116 272 5908… We are based in Leicestershire and Cheshire conveniently located to service the whole of the UK.

Our noise risk assessments are carried out by our own experienced  engineers using only Type 1 sound level meters capturing noise levels & data which will then be included into your written report. Any specific noisy areas of concern where noise exceeds acceptable levels will be clearly shown in the report, along with recommended mitigation measures.

Any remedial noise control measures can either by carried out independently using the report or we can provide  turn-key acoustic solutions from our partner manufacturing noise control company.

What our clients say…

”Very professional service” – David Evans (Health, Safety and Environment Manager) – JELD-WEN UK

”Many thanks… thorough as always” Dave Chapman (Health & Safety Manager) Venduct Engineering Ltd

Complete our Inquiry Form or  call us now on 0116 272 5908 to discuss your requirements.

Did you know?

• Excessive noise levels in the workplace can damage a persons hearing which cannot be reversed
• Excessive noise exposure over a long periods is a major contributor to noise induced hearing loss
• The Noise Regulations Act (2005) relates to all industry sectors, now including music and entertainment venues
• Noise risk assessments should be carried out by a competent person using suitably calibrated noise meters (Type 1 or 2)
• As an employer you have a legal obligation to protect your employees from excessive noise levels in the workplace. There are 3 action levels relating to noise at work.