Controlling Noise at Work Policy

Prolonged exposure to noise at work can cause hearing loss, which is often permanent. Hearing loss caused by work is preventable, but once someone’s hearing has gone, it will not come back.

Loughborough University will put in place measures to protect employees from the risks of noise induced hearing loss, which can be caused by exposure to excessive noise. These measures will include:-

1. Assessing the risks from noise exposure
2. Taking measures to reduce noise exposure where a risk assessment shows that this is necessary
3. Ensuring the level of noise generated is taken into account when a new piece of work equipment is purchased or hired
4. Providing hearing protection where necessary if risks cannot be adequately reduced by other means.
5. Providing training and information for employees on the risks from noise and the measures in place to reduce these
6. Providing health surveillance where the risk assessment shows that this is appropriate.

This will enable the University to satisfy its obligations under the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 (“the Noise Regs”) and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.

This policy does not cover the environmental aspects of noise and noise pollution; or the adverse effects on wellbeing

Scope

This policy applies where occupational exposure to noise at work is equal to or exceeds the statutory action levels or exposure limits. Although there is no legal obligation to provide the same duty of care for students, the University will, wherever possible, treat student’s health in the same way as that of employees.

Exposure Action Values and Exposure Limit Values

• Lower Exposure Action Value - 80dB(A) (personal exposure averaged over a day)
• 135 dB(C) Peak Sound pressure
• Upper Exposure Action Value - 85dB(A) (personal exposure averaged over a day)
• 137 dB(C) Peak Sound pressure

Wherever exposure exceeds these levels, certain actions are required. Where exposure is very varied, average exposure may be calculated over a week rather than a day.

• Exposure Limit Value – 87dB(A) (exposure averaged over a day or a week)
• 140 dB(C) Peak Sound Pressure

This is the maximum sound exposure permitted for any individual and takes hearing protection into account, e.g. it is the actual sound exposure of the individual, “at the ears”, following any attenuation from hearing protection.

Risk Assessment

A noise risk assessment is required wherever it is likely that exposure will occur at or above the Lower Exposure Action Value.

As a guide to this, the following may be considered:-

• If noise is intrusive but normal conversation is possible, likely noise level is approx. 80dB
• If you have to shout to talk to someone 2m away, likely noise level is approx. 85 dB
• If you have to shout to talk to someone 1m away, likely noise level is 90dB

The decibel scale used to measure noise is logarithmic. An increase in 3 dB equates to a doubling of sound. The increase from 80 to 85 dB is almost a four- fold increase in sound level.

A tractor, a power mower and a hand drill are each likely to generate at least 90dB (A). A chain saw may be well over 100dB (A).

Personal noise exposure is a function of noise level and length of exposure. An individual working in an area where the noise level was 80dB would have a personal exposure of 80dB if they worked there for 8 hours per day. Working in an area where the noise level was 85 dB for 2 hours per day would also give a personal exposure of 80 dB.

Where noise exposure is accompanied by exposure to vibration or to some chemicals such as solvents, the risk of adverse effects may be higher at a given noise level.

A formal, documented risk assessment should be carried out if any individual works in an area exceeding 80 dB on a regular basis (e.g. 4 hours or more, most days or if noise levels exceed 85dB, even if exposure is infrequent or irregular.

If risk assessment is deemed not to be necessary this should be recorded, for example as part of a department or section’s general risk assessment. Risk assessment requires:-

• assessment of the level and type of noise; this may come from manufacturer’s data for individual pieces of equipment, or from sound level measurement, especially where multiple pieces of equipment operate in an area simultaneously. Additional noise e.g. from background music should also be included;
• identification of who might be affected;
• the likely exposure time of those individuals, taking into account working patterns, noise exposure during breaks etc;
• assessment of indirect risk e.g. the risk of individuals not hearing warning alarms due to the noise level;
• consideration of additional risk factors such as the presence of vibration or solvents.

The risk assessment should include an action plan which documents the measures already in place to reduce the risk from noise exposure and any further measures planned.

The noise risk assessment can be a stand-alone document or can be incorporated into the overall risk assessment document for a department or process where this is more appropriate. A form for the purpose can be seen at; http://www.lboro.ac.uk/admin/hse/forms/forms.html, and at Appendix 1. It has been developed to record all necessary information to ensure the assessment is adequate.

The HSE’s exposure calculators and ready-reckoners

To assist you with your risk assessment, the HSE’s noise exposure calculators can help you work out your daily noise exposure, weekly noise exposures, and estimate the performance of hearing protection.

The noise exposure ready-reckoners allow you to estimate daily or weekly noise exposure. To use the daily exposure ready-reckoner you will need to know the levels of noise and durations of exposure which make up a person's working day. For weekly noise exposure, appropriate where somebody's noise exposure varies markedly from day to day, you will need to know the daily noise exposure for each day in the working week. These ready-reckoners can be printed for completion by hand. (See Section 4 for the link to the HSE’s Noise webpages and the HSE’s Noise calculator and ready reckoner).

The risk assessment should be reviewed if there is any change in noise exposure, changes in personnel, machinery or the law or simply if people think the existing assessment is no longer valid, and at intervals of no longer than 2 years.

The risk assessment for noise, and any associated measurement should be carried out in conjunction with the H&SS to ensure that the assessor has the necessary skills and experience.

Reducing noise exposure

Measures should be put in place to reduce risks from noise exposure to as low a level as reasonably practicable, even if noise levels are below the Lower Exposure Action Value. Consideration should be given as to whether further reductions are practical.

Wherever noise levels may exceed the Lower Exposure Action Level (e.g. personal exposure exceeding 80 dB), assistance should be sought from the UH&SS to assist with risk assessment and noise reduction.

Formal measures to reduce noise exposure must be introduced if the Upper Exposure Action Value is exceeded, e.g. personal exposure is above 85dB. Provision of hearing protection is not an adequate solution in these circumstances. PPE is the last resort or should be used in conjunction with other measures such as engineering controls.

Personal noise exposure MUST NOT exceed the Exposure Limit Value of 87dB. (This measurement takes into account the effect of hearing protection (e.g. PPE)).

Measures to reduce noise exposure may include:-

• Replacing tools and equipment with alternatives which create lower levels of noise.
• Ensuring all equipment is properly maintained.
• Reducing exposure by reducing time exposed to noise.
• Shielding or enclosure (of either a piece of equipment or the operator). Detailed guidance on ways of reducing noise exposure can be found in; “Controlling Noise at work: the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005. Guidance on Regulations”.

Hearing Protection

Hearing protection can be used as an additional measure once noise has been reduced as far as is reasonably practicable by other means; or as an interim measure pending noise reduction. It must not be used as the sole method of protection if personal noise exposures exceed the upper action value (85dB)

Hearing protection should be made available on request if noise exceeds the lower action value (80dB)

Any area where noise levels exceed 85 dB (or peak sound level of 137dBC) must be designated as ‘Hearing Protection Zones’ and marked with appropriate signage. Within these areas, wearing of hearing protection will be compulsory, even though exposure may only be for short periods of time.

Hearing protection provided must be suitable for the levels and type of noise individuals are exposed to. Guidance on choosing suitable hearing protection can be found in “Controlling Noise at work: the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005. Guidance on Regulations”.

Hearing protection should be stored properly, kept well maintained and regularly inspected by a competent person. Pre-use checks must be carried out by the user. Any defects reported and defective equipment replaced before starting or resuming work.

Health Surveillance

Health surveillance (audiometry) must be carried out for employees who are regularly exposed to noise above the upper exposure action value (85 dB)

Health surveillance will also be offered to those exposed above the Lower Exposure Action Value if they are at increased risk e.g. if they report a known sensitivity to noise damage or a family history of early deafness.

Where health surveillance is required it will usually be carried out annually for the first two years then at 3 yearly intervals. Wherever possible, audiometry for new employees (or those newly exposed to noise within the University) should be carried out prior to any noise exposure, ostensibly to give baseline data.

Health surveillance will be carried out by Occupational Health. All individual records will be held in confidence. Where appropriate, a summary of results for groups of employees will be reported back to a relevant manager to indicate the effectiveness of noise management systems.

Training and Information

All employees who are exposed to noise above the Lower Exposure Action Value should be given training to include:-

• The adverse effects of noise
• The results of risk assessments
• The measures required to reduce harmful noise exposure
• The need for hearing protection
• The correct use etc of hearing protection
• The need for health surveillance
• The responsibilities on employees

Training is arranged through the UH&SS. Alternatively the provision of information may be achieved by distributing leaflets or pocket cards.

Measures must be in place to ensure that new employees receive appropriate training prior to exposure to noise.