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The
exposure of employees to noise is governed
by the Noise at Work Regulations
1989 which place the following duties on
employers.
To make a formal noise
assessment where employees are likely to
be exposed to;
a) first action level
or above (85dB(A)).
b) peak action level or
above (200 Pascals).
Reg 2(1), 4(1)
Such assessment should
be made by a competent person and adequately
1) Identify which employees
are exposed, and
2) Provide the employer
with such information as will enable him
to carry out his statutory duties, and
3) When there is reason
to suppose that the assessment is no longer
valid, or when there has been a significant
change in the work to which the assessment
relates, review noise levels and make any
changes recommended by the review.
Reg 4(2)
The survey should allow
the employer to select the correct form
or hearing protection required as the sound
levels surveyed allow the level of attenuation
required to protect the individual to be
calculated.
There are new regulations
due to be introduced in 2006 which will
introduce new lower values for the first,
second and peak action levels
The revised levels are
First Action level 80
dB(A)
Second Action level 85
dB(A)
This in practical terms
means that at 80 dB(A) the first action
level hearing protection must be made available
upon request. At the second action level
85 dB(A) hearing protection must be issued
and worn and these areas designated and
signed as hearing protection zones. This
effectively means that any areas currently
where the wearing of hearing protection
is on the request of the employee now require
this to be issued and its wearing enforced
and the area signed as a hearing protection
zone.
Highcliffe Safety
Services are equipped to undertake
noise surveys to determine the noise levels
within work areas and advise on the appropriate
type of hearing protection required to reduce
the noise exposure of the workforce.
The services offered range
from a simple noise assessment in areas
with a constant noise to more detailed and
time consuming surveys where the levels
of noise vary throughout the day. Should
it be required individual employees can
be monitored throughout their working day
using personal noise dose meters.
Noise Assessments are
carried out using Cirrus Research meters
by:
C. N. Perry
MBA MIOSH AIIRSM |
