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What is noise?

Noise is an unwanted sound; its intensity (‘loudness’) is measured in decibels (dB). The decibel scale is logarithmic, so a three-decibel increase in the sound level already represents a doubling of the noise intensity. For example, a normal conversation may be about 65 dB and someone shouting typically can be around 80dB. The difference is only 15 dB but the shouting is 30 times as intensive. To take into account the fact that the human ear has different sensitivities to different frequencies, the strength or intensity of noise is usually measured in A-weighted decibels (dB(A)).

It is not just the intensity that determines whether noise is hazardous. The duration of exposure is also very important. To take this into account, time-weighted average sound levels are used. For workplace noise, this is usually based on an 8-hour working day.

DE-Vuvuzela noise can affect your hearing (01.07.2010)

Noise generated by vuvuzelas during the world football championship

DE-28th April – Day against noise (28.04.2010)

Occupational noise

Lower levels of noise may cause permanent hearing damage (10.12.2009)

Noise, The Journal of Neuroscience

EEA draws the first map of Europe's noise exposure (05.11.2009)

Press release

CAN-Updated pages on chemicals and noise exposure and webinar (03.11.2009)

Noise and ototoxic substances

UK, HSE, noise advice for freelance musicians and technicians (27.03.2009)

What do you need to know?

You are advised whenever undertaking freelance work, to ensure clarification of the responsibilities under the Noise Regulations and to ensure that any risks are controlled - this is best established by the contract of engagement.
Freelancers need to ensure that their daily exposure to noise does not exceed 85 dB or wear hearing protection. You are advised to wear hearing protection if your exposure is 80 dB or above. If you undertake more than one session or activity (i.e, practising/rehearsing/teaching) during a day, you should assess your exposure.
You may carry out a number of engagements during the day and, whilst an engagement may not present a risk on its own, the noise exposure from the combination of engagements could expose you to the risk of hearing damage
Noise Regulations require each employer to manage the risk to their employees and, so far as reasonably practicable, any other persons at work such as freelancers.
Engagers/contractors should take reasonable steps to ascertain the freelancer’s exposure during other engagements in the day and manage the risk to the freelancer’s hearing.
The Musicians’ Union can provide you with a Hearing Passport to help you with this process.

One in three European workers is exposed to vibration at work and this risk is becoming increasingly important. This report gives an overview of the challenges facing the occupational safety and health community in managing vibration-related risks.

The report shows how the EU Vibration Directive has been implemented and how workers’ exposure to risk in this field has changed. The report studies the situation in Belgium, Germany, Spain, Finland, France and Poland and is also based on research covering all Member States.

Jukka Takala, Director of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work said: “This report reminds everyone that vibration represents serious risks to workers across Europe. The Directive has introduced minimum protection requirements for workers; however, effective risk assessment and evaluation are needed as the first step in implementing practical strategies to reduce vibration risks.”

Drivers of off-road machines and operators of percussive, roto-percussive and rotative hand-tools are the types of employees likely to be exposed to the highest vibration doses.

The vibration directive (2002/44/EC), which came into force on 6th July 2005, has focused efforts on reducing the harm resulting from vibration and has clarified the challenges involved in taking effective preventive action.

The most important challenges are ensuring that limit values are not exceeded when using the highest risk equipment and machinery identified in this report; ensuring that the capacity to carry out proper exposure measurement is in place; putting in place effective measures to reduce vibration; giving proper assistance to employers; and carrying out necessary research in the most efficient way.

Read the report on vibration

Access the Vibration Directive 2002/44/EC

Visit the European Risk Observatory

EU- Potential health risks of exposure to noise from personal music players and mobile phones including a music playing function - Public consultation on the SCENIHR preliminary report (01.07.2008)

The European Commission has requested that SCENIHR prepares an opinion on the potential health risks of exposure to noise from personal music players and mobile phones including a music playing function.

Interested parties are invited to send their comments on the preliminary opinion via the following website

A document with guidelines for submission of contributions, containing criteria for the public consultation and guidance for submission can be found here.

Deadline for the submission of comments: 27 August 2008.