Control of noise at work regulations 2005

The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 in the United Kingdom are modeled on the EU Noise Directive 2003/10/EC. The laws went into effect in April 2006 for most sectors.

What is the The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005?

The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 are a set of regulations in the United Kingdom that require employers to prevent or reduce risks to their employee’s health and safety from exposure to noise at work. The regulations require employers to carry out risk assessments to determine the level of noise exposure in the workplace, take appropriate action to control the exposure and provide training and information to their employees. The regulations set out specific exposure limits and action values, which determine the level of risk and the necessary actions to be taken. The regulations also require employers to take a ‘buy quiet’ approach, where possible, and maintain machinery and noise-control equipment. Failure to comply with the regulations can result in enforcement action, including fines and prosecution.

What is the The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005

The best way to control noise at work is to use technical or organizational tools to get rid of or reduce the risks that come with noise exposure. This can be done by changing the way people work or the machines they use to make less noise, by replacing noisy machines with quieter ones, or by setting up the workplace and the way people work to keep people away from the noise. Personal hearing protection should only be used as a last resort because it only protects the person wearing it, and it doesn’t always work as well as expected. 

Under the Control of Noise at Work Regulations of 2005, employers are required by law to prevent or reduce health and safety risks at work that are caused by noise. This includes figuring out the risk of noise exposure, taking steps to get rid of or lower the risk, giving workers hearing protection if needed, and making sure they are trained and aware of the risks of noise exposure. Employers must also ensure that any equipment used in the workplace meets relevant supply laws and regulations and that noise-control equipment is properly maintained. Failure to comply with these obligations can result in legal action and penalties.

Who is responsible for controlling noise exposure in the workplace?

The Control of Noise at Work Regulations of 2005 says that it is the employer’s job to limit the amount of noise in the workplace. This includes figuring out how dangerous noise exposure is, taking steps to lower the noise levels, giving employees personal protective equipment (PPE) if they need it, and making sure employees are trained and aware of the dangers of noise exposure. The rules apply to all places of work where noise could be dangerous, such as factories, construction sites, and places where people go to have fun. 

Who is responsible for controlling noise exposure in the workplace

What are the key requirements of the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005?

The Control of Noise at Work Regulations of 2005 say that employers must evaluate the risk of noise exposure at work and, if necessary, take steps to lower the noise level. Employers must make sure that their workers have the right information, training, and instructions to protect their hearing. They also have to give workers the right PPE when the noise levels can’t be lowered enough by other means. Employers are required to monitor the noise levels in the workplace and keep records of the results.

Where do the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 apply?

The Control of Noise at Work Regulations of 2005 cover all places of work where noise could be dangerous. This includes factories, construction sites, places where people go to have fun, and any other place of work where noise levels are high. The regulations apply to both indoor and outdoor workplaces, and to all types of noise, including impulse noise, intermittent noise, and continuous noise.

Where do the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 apply

When should employers take action to reduce noise levels in the workplace?

Employers should take action to reduce noise levels in the workplace whenever the noise levels exceed the lower exposure action values (LEAVs) or upper exposure action values (UEAVs) set out in the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005. The LEAVs are 80 decibels (dB) for daily or weekly personal noise exposure and 135 dB for peak sound pressure. The UEAVs are 85 dB for daily or weekly personal noise exposure and have a peak sound pressure of 137 dB. Employers must also take action to reduce noise levels if their employees complain about the noise or if they notice that employees are having difficulty hearing.

Why is it important to control noise exposure in the workplace?

High levels of noise can damage your hearing for good, cause tinnitus, and cause other health problems. It can also lead to accidents and reduce productivity. The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 are designed to protect employees from these risks by requiring employers to assess the risk of exposure to noise in the workplace, take action to reduce the noise levels where necessary, and provide employees with suitable PPE where the noise levels cannot be adequately reduced by other means. By controlling noise exposure in the workplace, employers can protect the health and safety of their employees and improve productivity.

How can employers control noise exposure in the workplace?

Employers can control noise exposure in the workplace by using a variety of techniques, including eliminating or minimizing risks from exposure to noise by doing the work in a different way, modifying the work, process, or machine to reduce noise emissions, replacing machinery and equipment used with lower noise alternatives, arranging the workplace and workflow to separate people from the noise, and controlling the path of the noise from the source to reduce the noise reaching people. Employers should also consider a ‘Buy Quiet’ purchasing policy, where they buy machinery with low-noise features designed in by the manufacturers. Additionally, maintaining machinery and noise-control equipment, managing safety risks, and providing information, instruction, and training to employees are all important factors in controlling noise exposure in the workplace.

How can employers control noise exposure in the workplace

What happens if an employee is found to have hearing damage?

Employers are required by Regulation 9 of the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 to provide health surveillance for employees who are exposed to noise and at risk of hearing damage. This includes regular audiometric testing and maintaining a health record for each employee who undergoes health surveillance. Employers must also provide copies of health records to the enforcing authority when required. If an employee is found to have hearing damage, the employer must take steps to prevent further harm, such as assigning the employee to alternative work or providing continued health surveillance. Employees must cooperate with the health surveillance program and attend any required health checks, which must be arranged by the employer and paid for by them. Employers must consult with employees and their representatives before introducing health surveillance, and there should be a clear procedure in place for managing workers with work-related diseases.

Noise Exposure

Noise exposure is when a person is exposed to noise at work that is louder than the daily exposure action value (EAV) or the weekly exposure action value. The Control of Noise at Work Regulations of 2005 say that employers have to look at their workplaces and find places where noise levels are too high for workers. This evaluation should be done using accurate and reliable ways to measure noise, taking into account the amount of noise, how long people are exposed to it, and how well any noise-control measures are working. The results of the assessment should be written down and shared with employees. Any steps that are needed to reduce the risk of noise exposure should also be taken. 

The “daily personal noise exposure” is the amount of daily personal noise exposure for an employee, calculated based on the level of noise and length of time spent exposed to it. It covers all noises.

noise exposure

Exposure limit value (EAV)

EAV stands for “Exposure Action Value,” which is a value used in the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 to assess the level of noise exposure in the workplace. The EAV is set at 80 decibels and represents the level of daily or weekly noise exposure that should not be exceeded. If the level of noise exposure is at or above the EAV, employers must take action to reduce the risk to their employees, such as by providing hearing protection or implementing noise control measures. The exposure limit value is the maximum permissible level of daily or weekly personal noise exposure, as well as peak sound pressure outlined in the regulation.

80 decibels

80 decibels refers to the level of sound pressure that is considered the lower exposure action value (LAEV) under the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005. It is the point at which employers are required to take action to control noise exposure in the workplace, such as providing hearing protection and implementing engineering controls.

The lower exposure action values are:
a daily or weekly personal noise exposure of 80 dB (A-weighted);
and a peak sound pressure of 135 dB (C-weighted).

85 decibels

In the context of workplace noise exposure, 85 decibels is the lower exposure action value (LAV) set by the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005. This means that employers must take action to control noise exposure if the average noise level over a working day or week exceeds 85 decibels or if there are peak sound pressure levels above 137 decibels.

The upper exposure action values are:

a daily or weekly personal noise exposure of 85 dB (A-weighted);
and a peak sound pressure of 137 dB (C-weighted).

87 decibels

The Control of Noise at Work Regulations of 2005 say that at 87 decibels, employers must take steps to protect their workers from noise exposure and cut down on noise levels. This level is known as the Upper Exposure Action Value (UEAV). Employers are required to take action to reduce noise exposure levels to below the UEAV through various means, such as engineering controls, personal protective equipment, and administrative measures.

The exposure limit values are:
a daily or weekly personal noise exposure of 87 dB (A-weighted);
and a peak sound pressure of 140 dB (C-weighted).

Workplace noise assessment

Under the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005, employers are required to conduct a health surveillance program for employees who are exposed to noise levels at or above the lower exposure action value (LEAV). The noise surveillance program should evaluate the employee’s health status, including their hearing ability, and should be carried out by a qualified health professional.

Also, employers have to figure out how much noise their workers are exposed to and compare that to the exposure action values (EAVs) set by the rules. If employees are exposed to noise levels at or above the EAVs, then the employer must take action to control the exposure and may need to conduct further measurements to ensure that the control measures are effective.

Calculating daily and weekly personal noise exposure levels

The length of the workday and the equivalent continuous A-weighted sound pressure level are used to figure out the daily personal noise exposure level. A combination formula is used when the exposure is made up of more than one time period with different sound levels. The personal weekly personal noise exposure level is calculated using the daily exposure levels for a nominal week of five working days. The peak sound pressure level is calculated using the maximum value of the C-weighted sound pressure and a reference value of 20 μPa.

Formulas:

Daily personal noise exposure level:

LEP,d = 10 log10 (Te/T0) + LAeq,Te

Weekly personal noise exposure level:

LEP,w = 10 log10 [Σ(LEP,d)i/5]

Peak sound pressure level:

LCpeak = 20 log10 (pCpeak/p0)

Use of sound level meter and noise dosimeter

According to the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005, sound level meters and noise dosimeters are suitable for measuring workplace noise. The measurements must be taken by a competent person and be representative of the noise exposure during the employee’s working day. The employer must ensure that the measurement equipment is correctly calibrated, and the results must be recorded and kept for at least two years. The measurement results must be used to assess the level of risk to employees’ hearing and determine appropriate control measures to reduce the risk.

Use of sound level meter and noise dosimeter

Request more information
on the sound level meters












    Please indicate the subject of your enquiry:

    I hereby consent to the processing of my personal data, i.e. my full name and e-mail address, by SVANTEK SP. Z O.O. with its registered office in Warsaw at ul. Strzygłowska 81 for the purpose of receiving marketing information on the products and services offered by SVANTEK SP. Z O.O. via electronic means of communication, in particular via e-mail, in accordance with the provisions of Article 10 sec. 1 and 2 of the Act on providing services by electronic means.

    I hereby consent to the processing of my personal data, i.e. my full name and phone number, by SVANTEK SP. Z O.O. with its registered office in Warsaw at ul. Strzygłowska 81 for the purpose of marketing activities with the use of telecommunications terminal equipment and automatic calling machines within the meaning of the Telecommunications Act.

    I hereby consent to receiving from SVANTEK SP. Z O.O. with its registered office in Warsaw at ul. Strzygłowska 81, via electronic means to the e-mail address I have provided, the newsletter and marketing information on the products and services offered by SVANTEK SP. Z O.O., within the meaning of the Act on providing services by electronic means.


    I declare that I have been informed that my data may be transferred to entities that process personal data on behalf of the Administrator, in particular to distributors - such entities process data on the basis of an agreement with the Administrator and exclusively in accordance with its instructions. In such cases, the Administrator requires third parties to maintain the confidentiality and security of information and verifies that they provide appropriate measures to protect personal data.

    Some of the entities processing personal data on behalf of the Administrator are established outside the EEA. In connection with the transfer of your data outside the EEA, the Administrator verifies that these entities provide guarantees of a high level of personal data protection. These guarantees stem in particular from the obligation to apply the standard contractual clauses adopted by the Commission (EU). You have the right to request a copy of the standard contractual clauses by sending a request to the Controller.

    I declare that I have been informed on my right to withdraw my consent to the processing of my personal data at any time, to access the provided personal data, to rectify, erase, restrict processing and object to the processing of my data, as well as the right to lodge a complaint with the President of the of the Personal Data Protection Office in the event of an infringement of the provisions of GDPR.

    svantek consultant

    An authorized SVANTEK consultant will help You with the details such as the required accessories for your noise monitoring task.

    processing...