NOISE ASSESSMENT

JRL Solutions Ltd carries out noise assessment. Noise at work can cause hearing loss which can be temporary or permanent. People often experience temporary deafness after leaving being exposed to noise and hearing may recover within a few hours. Permanent hearing damage can be caused immediately by sudden, extremely loud, noises. Usually hearing loss takes place gradually due to prolonged exposures to noise. Compounding this is the normal hearing loss due to ageing. People may develop tinnitus (ringing, whistling, buzzing or humming in the ears), a distressing condition which can lead to disturbed sleep. Compensation costs for hearing damage are a significant drain on company profitability. Those with hearing damage suffer considerably.

The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 require employers to prevent or reduce risks to health and safety from exposure to noise at work. Following are the main actions employers should take:-

• Carry out a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risk to health and safety of employees.
• Eliminate or control exposure to noise at work.
• Provide hearing protection if noise exposure cannot be effectively controlled by other means.
• Maintain and use equipment provided to reduce noise exposure fully and properly.
• Implement a health surveillance programme including audiometry, where there is a risk to health identified by the assessment.
• Provide information, instruction and training.

In order for the assessment to be suitable and sufficient it must:-

• Be carried out by a competent person.
• Be based on advice and information from competent sources.
• Identify where there may be a risk from noise and who may be affected.
• Contain a reliable estimate of noise exposures and compare these with the exposure action values and limit values.
• Identify the measures required to eliminate the risks or educe them to as low a level as reasonably practicable.
• Identify those at risk who need to be provided with health surveillance.

JRL Solutions Ltd provides suitable and sufficient assessments of noise.

Elimination or control of noise must consider:-

• Other work methods which reduce exposures.
• Selection of work equipment.
• Design and layout of workplaces and rest facilities.
• Information and training.
• Reduction by technical means.
• Maintenance of work equipment and workplace.
• Limitation on duration and intensity of exposure.
• Work scheduling.

Employers must have regard to the noise exposure action values and the noise exposure limit values when meeting their obligations.

The lower exposure action value is 80dB(A) daily or weekly exposure or a peak sound pressure of 135dB(C). The upper exposure action value is 85dB(A) daily or weekly exposure or a peak sound pressure of 137dB(C) . The exposure limit value is 87dB(A) daily or weekly exposure or a peak sound pressure of 140dB(C).

When assessing the risk employers must consider the following:-

• Level, type and duration of exposure including exposure to peak sound pressure.
• Effects of exposure to individuals or groups at particular risk.
• Interaction between noise and ototoxic substances or between noise and vibration.
• Indirect effects resulting from the interaction of noise and audible warning signals or other sounds that need to be audible.
• Information provided by the manufacturers of work equipment.
• Availability of alternative equipment designed to reduce noise exposure.
• Extension of noise exposure beyond normal working hours, including exposure at rest breaks.
• Information from health surveillance.
• Availability of personal hearing protection with appropriate attenuation characteristics.   

Assessment must be reviewed when:-

• There is reason to suspect that the assessment is not valid.
• There has been a significant change in the work. 

Contact JRL Solutions Ltd at:-

 +44(0)1455 635985

enquiries@jrl-solutions.com

www.jrl-solutions.com