Noise Survey
The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 are intended to reduce the risk of occupational hearing damage and other noise related effects at work and require an occupational noise survey to be carried out.
The survey must include the measurement and recording of A- weighted broadband personal noise exposure levels at representative locations throughout the workplace where employees may be exposed to potentially high and harmful levels of noise.
The results of the noise survey can then be incorporated into a written noise risk assessment which will include the following elements:
The calculation of the daily or weekly personal exposure
to noise LEPD and peak noise LC PEAK noise
exposure levels.
The
comparison of the calculated daily or weekly personal exposures and
peak noise levels with the exposure
action and limit values of the Control of
Noise at Work Regulations 2005.
The definition of the status of all assessed areas or
tasks with reference to the specified action levels and
associated risks and the identification
of temporary or permanent hearing protection zones. This information
can be presented as a site noise map.
Guidance on the provision of hearing protection with the
correct attenuation characteristics to reduce noise
exposure at the ear to safe levels. This
may necessitate complementary octave band analysis or the
measurement of C weighted broadband
sound exposure levels.
Guidance on the implementation and maintenance of an
appropriate noise management and hearing
conservation programme to reduce exposure
to noise both in the short term but more importantly over the
long term. This may involve developing a
programme of noise reduction measures, the provision of appropriate
information and training to employees and
occupational hearing (audiometric) testing where the risk of noise
induced hearing loss has been identified
as high.
Equipment
All survey work is carried out using Type 1 integrating, data logging sound level meters fitted with 1:1 Octave Band Filters and Type 2 Noise Dosimeters. All instruments are fully calibrated and traceable back to National Standards.
