Controlling hazardous noise

Maintenance, review and further resources

Identification

The first step for employers is to make a preliminary assessment to identify sources of hazardous noise.

Hazard identification can be performed by walking through the workplace at different times during the day, looking and listening for noisy activities and equipment. An assessment will help determine:

What work activities are noisy
Sources of excessive noise which make it difficult to hear a normal voice when trying to hold a conversation
Workers likely to be exposed to noise
Ways of reducing noise levels

This should be done in consultation with workers and WHS Representatives familiar with equipment and work processes.

You can download a sound meter app onto your mobile device to help measure the sound volume.

Here is a Noise Hazards Guide that will help identify common noise sources and their typical sound levels.

If a potential noise hazard has been identified, the next step is for the employer to conduct a risk assessment.

Risk assessment

The quantitative noise assessment is conducted by a competent person in accordance with AS/NZS 1269.1:2005 Occupational noise management - Measurement and assessment of noise emission and exposure.

Personal noise exposure monitoring is preferred over area monitoring.

Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss at Work Code of Practice can be used to determine whether the noise dosage for any part or whole of a working day exceeds limits – refer to Tables 9, 10 and 11, in this document.

Alternatively, the UK HSE has a noise ready-reckoner: https://www.hse.gov.uk/noise/calculator.htm

These tools would help to determine whether you are complying with 85 dB(A) (aggregated over 8 hours) particularly if noise exposures are variable and not over an entire 8-hour shift. An increase in noise by 3 dB(A) represents a doubling in sound level.

A workplace noise assessment will determine what level of hearing PPE your workers must use to protect them from any leftover noise risk.

If your workplace has been identified as noise or vibration at a level that would be hazardous to its workers, then a number of control measures should be implemented to protect the health and safety of its workers and reduce the occurrence of noise induce hearing loss.

Control measures

Following the assessment of noise levels, businesses should apply risk control measures.

Noise levels should be kept below the exposure standard of 85 decibels (dB)(A) in an 8-hour day so that critical situations can still be communicated despite the noise.

This involves applying the hierarchy of controls, seeking firstly to eliminate sources of noise where possible and then implement ways of reducing noise exposure with:

Let’s look at these more closely:

Substituting plant or processes to reduce noise
Engineering solutions
Administrative controls

Ensuring the use of PPE (hearing protection)

Substituting plant or processes to reduce noise

Change the way you do the job.

A different way of doing the job may provide the same result with a lot less noise. For example:

bending metal in a vice or a press is quieter than hammering it into shape
welding is generally quieter than riveting
gluing is quieter than hammering in nails
clipping is quieter than stapling, and lowering materials in a controlled manner is quieter than dropping them on hard surface
'buy quiet’ when purchasing new or replacement equipment, which is a cost-effective way to control noise at the source

Engineering solutions

Action could include:

introduce engineering controls to treat noise at its source or in its transmission path, such as using sound dampeners, silencers, noise barriers/partitions/screens and isolation

regularly maintain plant and equipment
install sound insulation
using vibration stabilising pads
using absorbent lining on surfaces to cushion the fall or impact of objects
fitting exhaust mufflers on internal combustion engines
fitting silencers to compressed air exhausts and blowing nozzles
provide quiet rooms for rest breaks that are fully enclosed with well-sealed doors and windows to reduce background noise levels as far as possible
selecting tyre types that are suitable for the ground surfacing or terrain; and installing vibration-minimising seats on mobile plant.

Administrative controls

Administrative actions should provide a systematic framework that support the higher level WHS controls used.

Action could include:

Training and education
Job rotation, job redesign or designing rosters, to reduce the number of workers exposed to noise.
Ensure areas where people may be exposed to hazardous noise are sign-posted as hearing protector areas
Schedule activities involving hazardous noise to be done outside of normal hours or on shifts with fewer workers present, where possible

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Maintenance, review and further resources

All control measures must be maintained and regularly reviewed so that it remains effective, fit for purpose, suitable for the nature and duration of the work, and is installed, set up and used correctly.

You must also review and revise the control measure implemented as necessary including before a change occurs at the workplace that is likely to create a new or different risk, a new hazard or risk has been identified or when requested by a health and safety representative.

Technical help and resources

Tools

Code of Practice for managing noise and preventing hearing loss, that includes:

a hazard identification checklist
a ready reckoner of different sound levels
examples of control measures.

Further links: