Controlling noise at work

[edit] Introduction

In Great Britain, over 1 million employees are exposed to noise levels at their workplace which pose a risk to their hearing. Excessive noise at work is responsible for about 170,000 people suffering from deafness, tinnitus and other ear conditions. The construction industry is one of the industries with the highest noise exposure levels.

In April 2006, the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 came into force, replacing the Noise at Work Regulations 1989. The regulations were established under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and implemented European Council directive 2003/10/EC. The regulations require employers to protect their employees from levels of noise that could cause them hearing damage.

The Noise Emission in the Environment by Equipment for use Outdoors Regulations of 2001 (as amended) are also underpinning and relevant legislation.

[edit] Construction equipment

The Noise Emission in the Environment by Equipment for use Outdoors Regulations cover the testing requirements for potentially noisy equipment and cover some 57 types of outdoor machinery, typically used on construction sites or in large parks and gardens, such as chainsaws, cranes, dumpers, excavators, lawnmowers, leaf blowers and power generators. These types are divided into two: equipment subject to noise limits and noise marking and equipment subject to noise marking only.

The regulations do not apply to machinery for the transport of goods or people by road, rail, air or waterways, nor for use by the military, police or emergency services. The regulations allow for production and measurement uncertainties with a procedure that includes the creation of technical documentation, providing the information to enable compliance to be assessed. Equipment must display a relevant Guaranteed Sound Power label.

Manufacturers must also declare conformity with relevant legislation by affixing the UKCA mark (in the case of outdoor machinery being placed on the market in GB) and/ or the CE or CE and UKNI mark (in the case of outdoor machinery being placed on the market in NI). The CE marking was accepted for some equipment on the GB market but only until 1 January 2022. For further information and updates as of 2024 visit The Noise Emission in the Environment by Equipment for use Outdoors Regulations of 2001 Guidance V 5.

The regulations apply UK wide, however some of the provisions apply differently in Great Britain (England, Scotland, and Wales) and Northern Ireland. The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) enforces the Regulations in GB and NI on behalf of the Secretary of State for Business and Trade.

[edit] Construction noise

Even with testing regulations to ensure that noisy equipment is limited, many pieces of equipment are unavoidably noisy. Construction is one of the industries with the highest noise exposure levels, common equipment often used on construction sites can lead to hearing loss, nad these might include include hammers, pneumatic impact tools, drills, chainsaws, and so on.

Some examples of construction equipment and their approximate decibel levels are shown below:

• Backhoe: 84-93 dB
• Bulldozer: 93-96 dB
• Concrete joint cutter: 99-102 dB
• Crane: 90-96 dB
• Earth tamper: 90-96 dB
• Earthmover: 87-94 dB
• Front-end loader: 86-94 dB
• Hammer: 87-95 dB
• Jackhammer: 102-111 dB
• Pneumatic chip hammer: 103-113 dB
• Portable saw: 88-102 dB
• Stud welder: 101 dB

HSE provide a number of tools to help assess noise levels. For more info see Exposure calculators and ready-reckoners

[edit] Action levels

The regulations require employers take certain steps, at specified action levels, to reduce the harmful effects of noise on hearing. These relate to the levels of exposure to noise by an employee averaged over a working day or week; and the maximum noise (peak sound pressure) in a working day. There are two main action levels for continuous noise:

Lower exposure action value:

This is a daily or weekly average noise exposure level of 80 dB, at which the employer must make hearing protection available and provide information and training.

• Daily or weekly exposure of 80 dB.
• Peak sound pressure of 135 dB.

Upper exposure action value:

This is a daily or weekly average noise exposure of 85 dB, above which the employer is required to take reasonably practicable measures to reduce noise exposure, such as engineering controls or other technical measures. If the noise cannot be controlled by these measures, hearing protection is mandatory.

• Daily or weekly exposure of 85 dB.
• Peak sound pressure of 137 dB.

Exposure limit value:

These are the levels of noise exposure which must not be exceeded.

• Daily or weekly exposure of 87 dB.
• Peak sound pressure of 140 dB.

[edit] How can employers’ comply?

Depending on the levels of noise exposure, employers’ must take the following steps:

• Take action where reasonably practicable to reduce the noise exposure producing the risk.
• Ensure the legal limits are not exceeded.
• Provide hearing protection if the exposure cannot be reduced through changing machinery or other steps.
• Establish hearing protection zones.
• Ensure employees have adequate information, instruction and training on mitigating risks.
• Carry out regular health surveillance where there are risks.

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings

• Airborne sound.
• Building acoustics.
• Decibel.
• Environmental health.
• Impact sound.
• Injuries on construction sites.
• Noise.
• Noise at Work Assessment.
• Noise level.
• Sound absorption.
• Sound frequency.
• Sound v noise.
• Structure-borne sound.
• What hours are construction sites allowed to operate?
• Workplace noise exposure estimator.

[edit] External references

• HSE – Noise regulations.