Workplace noise is often overlooked, yet prolonged exposure can have serious consequences for both employee health and business performance. From temporary hearing damage and tinnitus to permanent hearing loss, excessive noise can affect wellbeing, communication, concentration and safety in the workplace. Understanding your legal responsibilities and taking practical steps to control noise risks not only helps protect your people but can also reduce accidents, improve productivity and create a healthier working environment. In this article, we explore the impact of workplace noise, employer duties and the most effective ways to reduce risk.
Noise at Work
Did you know that…. there were an estimated 15,000 workers with work-related hearing problems reported from 2022 to 2025 according to a Labour Force Survey (LFS)] and 50 new cases of occupational deafness in 2024 conferred by the Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefits (IIDS) department.
So, What is Noise and How Can it be Harmful to the Workforce?
Noise is often said to be a signal that fails to produce meaningful communication, or it is defined as unwanted sound. Sound is variations in pressure through air or water that can be detected by the human ear.
Noise can manifest itself as a harmful physical agent through people being exposed to singular dose, being exposed to explosions, artillery fire or in mines or quarries for instance, or through prolonged exposure to high levels of noise that will, over time, have a detrimental effect upon a person’s hearing.
The potential consequences of being exposed to high levels of noise can include a perforated or burst eardrum, temporary noise induced hearing loss, a condition that recovers if the sufferer remains in a relatively quiet environment. Or, tinnitus, a buzzing, hissing or ringing in the ear(s). In worst cases there is permanent noise induced hearing loss [NIHL], which is irreparable damage to the hair cells in the cochlear, which pass these frequencies through the auditory nerve to the brain for interpretation into meaningful sound.
Besides the health risks to workers there is also the safety issues to consider. High volumes of noise can make communications difficult in the workplace; workers may not hear warning sounds or alarms for example or noise could affect their concentration thus increasing the likelihood of making mistakes.
It made the conversation feel more realistic rather than labelled or fixed.
So, What Can Employers Do to Prevent Harm to Their Workforce?
Guidance for employers is available in the Approve Code of Practice L108 or INDG362(rev2) published by the Health and Safety Executive [WWW.hse.gov.uk] which requires employers to eliminate or reduce risks from noise in their workplaces by either reducing exposure to noise or by providing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). Furthermore, employers must ensure that legal limits are not exceeded, that they provide sufficient information, instruction and training to staff on noise and monitor workers hearing capability through audiometry testing.
Before this, employers need to ascertain whether they have a noise problem and only need to concentrate on the issue if the noise is intrusive for most of the working day. If staff need to raise their voices to carry out a normal conversation when about 2 m apart then maybe concern should be given. Maybe more obvious would be where employees use noisy powered tools or machinery for more than half an hour each day or the company’s undertakings are such that a high level of noise would be created; construction work or heavy manufacturing for example.
The table below shows the noise levels of when a risk assessment is required.
|
Test |
Probable noise level |
A risk assessment will be required if the noise is like this for more than: |
|
The noise is intrusive but normal conversation is possible |
80 dB |
6 hours |
|
You must shout to talk at 2 meter away |
85dB |
2 hours |
|
You must shout to talk at 1 meter away |
90 dB |
45 minutes |
Earlier in the article it was said that employers must ensure that legal limits are not exceeded, but what are those limits? There are defined limits, known as the ‘exposure action levels’ in the regulations which if exceeded require certain actions to be taken. The exposure action levels, of which there are two, are the Lower and Upper Exposure values and are measured in dB’s (decibels).
|
|
Lower Exposure action value (dBs) |
Upper Exposure action value (dBs) |
|
Daily or weekly personal exposure |
80 (A-weighted) |
85 (A-weighted) |
|
Peak sound Pressure
|
135 (C-weighted) |
137 (C-weighted) |
What Actions Need to be Taken if the Level of Noise Reaches These Values?
At noise levels of 80 dBs (A), Lower Exposure Action Value (LEAV) employers must assess the risks to workers health and provide appropriate information and training.
At the Upper Exposure Action Value (UEAV), 85 dBs, employers are required to provide personal hearing protection if requested by employees. Also, they must clearly designate noisy areas with safety signage. When levels reach 87 dBs or above, employers must ensure that hearing protection is worn.
Care should be exercised to avoid overprotection that reduces the levels of noise at the ear below 70 dB since over protection may cause difficulties in communication and the ability to hear warning signals
Is Providing Hearing Protection the Only Solution?
The simple answer is no. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) should be the last resort and other methods of eliminating or reducing exposure must be contemplated.
Try removing the noise source altogether? A generator or noisy machine relocated to another place away from the workers. If not feasible, can a quieter machine help. Consider engineering or technical solutions, mufflers on exhausts, resilient mounts to machines for instance. Don’t forget the use of barriers, enclosing noise sources or noise absorbent materials to reduce or deflect the noise. And then, limit the time that people spend in noisy areas.
To be successful in your noise-control measures employers must provide employees with the necessary information, instruction and training to ensure their policies are complied with and thus minimise the risk of noise induced hearing problems. Remember, it requires team work to ensure everybody’s long-term health in the workplace so get your employees involved in any measures you employ.