Reducing noise

Reducing noise

Employers have a legal duty to protect the health and safety of staff from all noise-related risks at work. They should:

• Conduct a risk assessment – this may involve carrying out noise measurements, but should consider all the potential risks from noise (e.g. accidents as well as hearing loss);
• Based on the risk assessment, put in place a programme of measures to:
• Where possible, eliminate sources of noise;
• Control noise at source;
• Reduce worker exposure by work organisation and workplace layout measures, including the marking of, and restriction of access to, workplace areas where workers are likely to be exposed to noise levels exceeding 85 dB(A);
• Provide personal protective equipment to employees as a last resort;
• Inform, consult, and train workers about the risks faced, low noise working measures, and how to use noise protection;
• Monitor the risks and review preventive measures – this may include health surveillance.