The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 came fully into force on 6 April 2008. The main provisions of the Regulations are outlined below.
Regulation 4: Exposure limit values and action values
Regulation 5: Assessment of risk created by noise exposure at the workplace
An employer who carries out work liable to expose employees to noise at or above a lower exposure action value (80dBA) has carry out a risk assessment in consultation with employees and their representatives and it must be updated when necessary.
Regulation 6: Elimination or control of exposure to noise at the workplace
Employers must ensure risk from the exposure of employees to noise is either eliminated at source or, if not possible, reduced to as low a level as is reasonably practicable. If any employee is likely to be exposed to noise at or above an upper exposure action value (see above – 85dBA) the employer must take measures to reduce exposure to as low a level as is reasonably practicable.
These measures have to be based on the general principles of prevention set out in the Management of Health and Safety Regulations 1999, and are fully listed in the Noise and vibration chapter of the TUC’s Hazards at Work health and safety manual.
Regulation 7: Hearing Protection
Employees must make personal hearing protectors available upon request to any employee who is so exposed to noise at or above a lower exposure action value (80dBA). And if an employer cannot reduce levels of noise below an upper exposure action value (85dBA), then personal hearing protectors must be provided to any exposed worker. Other measures include creating and then controlling access to Designated Hearing Zones.
Noise must not exceed the upper limit (the “exposure limit value”) of 87dB(A) daily or weekly exposure, and peak sound pressure of 140 dB, taking into account the hearing protection being worn.
Regulations 8, 9 and 10 include duties upon the employer to maintain the protective equipment, monitor the health of exposed workers and provide information and training to exposed employees.
