The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005

The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 (the Noise Regulations) came into force for all industry sectors in Great Britain on !"ril 200 (e#ce"t for the music and entertainment sectors $here they came into force on !"ril 200%)& The aim of the Noise Regulations is to ensure that $orkers' hearing is "rotected from e#cessi(e noise at their "lace of $ork) $hich could cause them to lose their hearing and*or to suffer from tinnitus ("ermanent ringing in the ears)& The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 re"lace the Noise at Work Regulations +,%,& ! co"y of the Noise at Work Regulations 2005 can -e found at the follo$ing $e- address. htt".**$$$&o"si&go(&uk*si*si2005*2005+ /0&htm or -y (isiting the 1ealth and 2afety 3#ecuti(e $e-site at the follo$ing $e- address. htt".**$$$&hse&go(&uk*noise*inde#&htm Guidance on the 2005 Regulations can -e found in the free 123 leaflet. Noise at Work (4N5G0 2 re(+) and the 1236s 7Controlling Noise at Work6 (8+0%) (42BN 0 9+9 + / /)) $hich is a(aila-le from 123 -ooks at the follo$ing $e-site address. htt".**$$$&hse-ooks&co&uk*Books*5efault&as":cookie;5<test=+ the document is also a(aila-le from most -ooksho"s) "rice >+0&,5&

Background to the Noise at Work Regulations 2005

The Noise at Work Regulations 2005 ha(e -een introduced to hel" "rotect $orkers from noise induced hearing loss& !""ro#imately %0; of claims for occu"ational disease are for noise? induced deafness& The Regulations "lace a statutory duty on em"loyers to take 7reasona-ly "ractica-le6 measures to reduce noise e#"osure to em"loyees& Both the +,%, and the 2005 sets of noise regulations are -ased on 3uro"ean @nion 5irecti(es reAuiring similar -asic la$s throughout the @nion on "rotecting $orkers from the health risks caused -y noise& They do not a""ly to mem-ers of the "u-lic e#"osed to noise from their non? $ork acti(ities) or $hen they make an informed choice to go to noisy "laces or from nuisance noise& The 2005 Noise Regulations re"lace the +,%, Noise Regulations and introduce ne$ reAuirements for action to -e taken -y em"loyers& <or e#am"le) the 2005 Regulations reAuire em"loyers to take action to "rotect $orkers at le(els of noise 5 deci-els lo$er than in the +,%, Regulations and no$ reAuire health sur(eillance (hearing checks) for $orkers regularly e#"osed a-o(e %5 deci-els& How is noise measured? Noise is measured in deci-els (dB)& !n 7!?Weighting6 sometimes $ritten as 7dB (!)6) is used to measure a(erage noise le(els) and a 7C?$eighting6 or 7dB(C)6) to measure "eak) im"act or e#"losi(e or e#"losi(e noises& Bou might Cust notice a 0dB change in noise le(el) due to the $ay human ears $ork& 1o$e(er) e(ery 0dB dou-les the noise) so $hat might seem like a small difference in the num-ers can make a large difference& Terminology 5aily "ersonal noise e#"osure (LEP,d ). ! measure of noise dose recei(ed during a $orking day& 4n "ractice) for each $ork task take the a(erage noise le(el and duration of task& To allo$ com"arison -et$een doses) referenced to a fi#ed eight?hour duration&

Weekly "ersonal noise e#"osure (LEP,w). The a(erage of a $orking $eeks daily noise e#"osures& <or com"arison) referenced to a fi#ed num-er of fi(e days&

The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 ction ! "imit #alues are as follows$ The lo$er e#"osure action (alues are. (a) a daily or $eekly "ersonal noise e#"osure of %0 dB (!?$eighted)D and (-) a "eak sound "ressure of +05 dB (C?$eighted) The u""er e#"osure action (alues are. (a) a daily or $eekly "ersonal noise e#"osure of %5 dB (!?$eighted)D and (-) a "eak sound "ressure of +09 dB (C?$eighted) The e#"osure limit (alues are. (a) a daily or $eekly "ersonal noise e#"osure of %9 dB (!?$eighted)D and (-) a "eak sound "ressure of +/0 dB (C?$eighted)& Note. the e#"osure limit (alues must ne(er -e e#ceeded) no matter ho$ -riefly& Where the LEP,d e#ceeds %0dB(!)) or a "eak sound "ressure of +05dB(C)) the first action le(el) the range of duties is e#tended&

Regulation 5 This reAuires a formal risk assessment to -e undertaken -y a 7com"etent "erson6) in order to assess the noise le(els $here em"loyees are 7likely6 to -e e#"osed to the lo$er or u""er action le(els& The risk assessment should. 4dentify those em"loyees $ho are e#"osed to noise at $ork) andD Ero(ide the em"loyee $ith the necessary information to ena-le the em"loyerD to carry out his*her statutory dutiesD Re(ie$ the assessment $hen it -ecomes out of date or -ecomes in(alidD Fee" a record of the assessment&

Regulation % This reAuires the em"loyer to reduce) so far as is 7reasona-ly "ractica-le6) em"loyees e#"osure to noise (-y means other than -y the use of "ersonal "rotecti(e eAui"ment (EE3)) $here em"loyees are lia-le to -e e#"osed to the second or "eak action le(els:: Regulation & 5uty to "ro(ide em"loyees $ith suita-le and sufficient EE3 (ear "rotection) $here em"loyees are e#"osed to noise le(els at or a-o(e the first action le(el) %0dB(!)) -ut -elo$ second or u""er action le(el of %5dB(!)& Note. that this duty only a""lies u"on the reAuest of the em"loyees& 1o$e(er) $here the noise le(els are at or a-o(e the second or u""er action le(el %5dB(!)) an 3ar Erotection Gone (3EG) must -e declared) and. The 3EG must -e clearly indicated) andD 3m"loyees must not -e allo$ed to enter the Hone unless they are $earing suita-le and sufficient ear "rotection (EE3)&

Regulation '
Iaintenance and use of EE3) all eAui"ment must -e fully maintained& 3m"loyees must only use eAui"ment "ro(ided -y the em"loyer and re"ort any defects) as and $hen necessary) to their em"loyer&

Regulation ( 5uty to undertake health sur(eillance for noise induced hearing damage $here em"loyees are freAuently e#"osed to noise at u""er e#"osure action (alues& !lso reAuired $here em"loyee has "re?e#isting hearing loss or is susce"ti-le to noise e#"osure (a""lies $here e#"osed to noise a-o(e lo$er or first action le(el)& Regulation )0 Ero(ision of information) instruction and training) $hich includes information a-out the noise le(els to $hich em"loyees are e#"osed and $hat this means in terms of damage to their hearing) andD What the em"loyer is going to do to control the risksD 1o$ and $here hearing "rotection can -e o-tainedD 1o$ to $ear hearing "rotection correctly and understand the im"ortance of its "ro"er useD <ollo$ any defined safe systems of $orkD Ero(ide information a-out entitlement to health sur(eillance& ssessing noise le*els in the work+lace
4n order to meet the reAuirements of the regulations) em"loyers $ill need to make an initial assessment of the noise le(els in the "remises& Elease noteD accurate noise measurements are not reAuired at this stage& 4f you esta-lish that you do ha(e a noise "ro-lem) you $ill need to assess the risks to decide $hether any further action is needed) and "lan ho$ you $ill do it& The aim of the risk assessment is to hel" you decide $hat you need to do to ensure the health and safety of your em"loyees $ho are e#"osed to noise& 4t is more than Cust taking measurements of noise ? sometimes measurements may not e(en -e necessary

,o you ha*e a noise +ro-lem at work?

This $ill de"end on ho$ loud the noise is and ho$ long "eo"le are e#"osed to it& !s a sim"le guide you $ill "ro-a-ly need to do something a-out the noise if any of the follo$ing a""ly. 4s the noise intrusi(e ? like a -usy street) a (acuum cleaner or a cro$ded restaurant ? for most of the $orking day: 5o your em"loyees ha(e to raise their (oices to carry out a normal con(ersation $hen a-out 2 m a"art for at least "art of the day: 5o your em"loyees use noisy "o$ered tools or machinery for more than half an hour each day: 5o you $ork in a noisy industry) eg construction) demolition or road re"airD $ood$orkingD "lastics "rocessingD engineeringD te#tile manufactureD general fa-ricationD forging) "ressing or stam"ingD "a"er or -oard makingD canning or -ottlingD foundries:

!re there noises due to im"acts (such as hammering) dro" forging) "neumatic im"act tools etc)) e#"losi(e sources such as cartridge o"erated tools or detonators) or guns:

Noise at work in the music and entertainment sectors <rom the th !"ril 200%) the Noise at Work Regulations 2005 -ecame a""lica-le to the music and entertainment sectors& This includes Eu-s) Clu-s and Nightclu-s*5iscos $here either li(e or recorded music is "layed& 4f you ha(e identified that you ha(e a "ro-lem $ith noise at $ork) and you ha(e carried out a risk assessment as outlined a-o(e) it may -e that you can take sim"le measures $ithout s"oiling the enCoyment of your customers) remem-er) the regulations are a-out "rotecting your $orkers and are not intended to ruin or s"oil the music e#"erience of your customers&

.im+le measures could include$

!coustic controls. hel" to a-sor- re(er-erant noise Ehysical se"aration. kee" em"loyees a$ay from noisy areas 5irection controls. to "oint the sound $here you $ant it ? the dance floor or "erformance area) and a$ay from -ars and other areas Jolume control. kee" all eAui"ment in good $orking condition and make it clear $ho can use the (olume controls Ianaging e#"osure. to reduce the length of time to $hich indi(iduals are e#"osed 4nformation) instruction and training. to make sure e(eryone understands $hat you are doing a-out noise) and $hy it is im"ortant 1earing "rotection. -ut only after you ha(e looked at all other $ays of controlling noise or $hile you are im"lementing a more "ermanent solution 1earing health checks. make sure "eo"le at risk are regularly monitored /urther 0nformation and ad*ice <or more information on ho$ to manage noise at $ork) it is recommended that you (isit the 1ealth and 2afety 3#ecuti(e6s We-site at. htt+$11www2hse2go*2uk1noise1inde32htm 4n addition some (ery useful information is a(aila-le from the 2ound !d(ice We-site) $hich has -een "roduced -y Iusic and 3ntertainment 2ector Working Grou" in conCunction $ith 1ealth and 2afety 3#ecuti(e and is at the follo$ing $e-site address. htt+$11www2soundad*ice2info14 Elease note. this $e-site is currently undergiong a re(ie$) $hich is due to -e com"leted -y Kuly 200%& 4nformation and ad(ice is also a(aila-le from your 8ocal !uthority6s 3n(ironmental 1ealth 5e"artment -y tele"honing 0+ + 909 055+ or -y email en(ironmentLsalford&go(&uk

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