The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 in the United Kingdom are originally adopted from the EU Noise Directive 2003/10/EC. The laws went into effect in April 2006 for most sectors.
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.
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.
Following the Noise Directive, the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 established exposure limits for noise in the workplace.
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).
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).
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).
The full text of Noise at Work Regulations
Employers must conduct a “health surveillance” which means evaluation of the health status of an employee, including noise exposure, following The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005. When the noise level reaches a certain limit, measurement of employee exposure to noise is required.
Sound level meters such as SV 971A or noise dosemeters like SV 104 are used to measure workplace noise.
