Noise in the Workplace

Exposure to loud noise can cause permanent damage to your hearing. Few people would disagree with this statement but we often fail to treat it as seriously as other hazards that may be less likely to result in injury.

Hearing damage may be temporary but is often permanent. It may take the form of hearing loss, which is distressing for anyone. However, it can also result in sensations of permanent noise or ringing in the ears, known as ‘tinnitus’, which can prove even more distressing.

Quoting research figures published by the HSE, there are an estimated 170,000 people throughout the UK who are suffering from hearing loss, tinnitus or other hearing damage as a result of being exposed to excessive levels of noise at work.

Employers have a legal duty to reduce the risk of hearing damage for their employees and there are actions that must be taken when noise exposure exceeds defined limits.

The Regulations Are Changing

It is for this reason that a European Directive has been published that is aimed at tightening up the regulations concerning noise at work.

As far as the UK is concerned, the new directive has to be translated into health and safety regulations by February 2006 at the latest.

In April 2004, the Health and Safety Commission published a consultation document on the proposed changes to the UK Regulations (which have been in existence since 1989) and the period of consultation finished in July 2004. The HSE is currently formulating proposals that take account of the comments received.

How Dangerous Can Noise Be?

Apart from the risk of direct hearing damage, there are other risks associated with noise in the workplace. For example, it interferes with communication in general and makes it more difficult to hear warning signals and alarms. Noise can also be a distraction, particularly sudden, loud sounds, which can be a particular problem if they startle people who are working around machinery, for example. Noise is also often cited as a factor in stress complaints.

There’s More Than One Form of Hearing Injury

Deafness occurs when the structures within the cochlea are damaged. The resultant hearing problems can be of two forms, namely:

Loss of frequency sensitivity
Increased hearing threshold (i.e. sounds must be louder before the person can hear them)

Damage may be temporary, but extremely loud, sudden noises can result in permanent hearing loss. Permanent damage can also occur from exposure to lower levels of noise over an extended period of time – often over a number of years.

It is perhaps because harm can result from a slow build-up of injury over a long period that people are lulled into a false sense of security – "it won’t happen to me" syndrome. It is only after the damage becomes permanent that people realise what is happening, by which time, of course, it is too late.

Age is no protection, either. Although hearing naturally tends to deteriorate as we get older, injury from noise in the workplace is a risk faced by people of all ages.

And Little by Way of Effective Treatment

It is important to emphasise that there is currently no known cure for hearing damage once it has become permanent. That includes both hearing loss and the experience of tinnitus.

The only viable solution is to heed the warnings and implement precautions now. Organisations that already have precautions in place would be well advised to review their arrangements to ensure they satisfy the requirements of the revised regulations.

What Are Noise Exposure Limits?

So what is the health and safety approach to hearing safety?

It is based around the concept of Action Levels – that is, levels of noise exposure at which action must be taken to reduce the harmful effects for employees and others who may be exposed to the noise.

(Action levels are actually expressed as the daily total personal exposure to noise at work, which is typically expressed in terms of the shorthand LEP,d. In other words it is a measure of the noise level to which a person is exposed, averaged over the working day.)

At present, the first (or lowest) Action Level is set at 85dB(A) averaged over an 8 hour day. At this level, an employer must provide information and training to employees on the hazards associated with noise. They must also make hearing protection equipment available.

The second Action Level is currently set at 90 dB(A). Above this level, an employer must do all that is reasonably practicable to reduce noise levels, using whatever control measures are appropriate. Until such time as effective controls are implemented, use of hearing protection is mandatory. Each affected area must be designated as a mandatory noise zone, with appropriate signage and the organisation must provide health surveillance.

The difference between the two action levels (85 to 90) may seem small, but they are actually measured on a logarithmic scale so that a decrease of only 3 dB(A) has the effect of halving the noise intensity.

In fact, as a rough and ready indicator of different noise levels:

Normal conversation typically registers between 50 dB(A)and 60 dB(A)
A busy high street might register between 78dB(A) and 85 dB(A)
A chain saw is typically in the region of 115dB(A) to 120 dB(A)

There is a third action level, referred to as the Peak Action Level. Rather than addressing noise levels over extended periods of time, this refers to very high noise levels that are of short duration. It is set at 200 pascals, which is a measure of pressure.

How Are Exposure Limits Set to Change?

The effect of the new legislation will be to lower these Action Levels and each will be expressed as a daily exposure limit along with a peak value. The new values are:

First Action Level at 80 dB(A) – with a peak value of 112 pascals
Second Action Level at 85 dB(A) – with a peak value of 140 pascals
Limit value set at 87 dB(A) – with a peak value of 200 pascals

It can be seen from the above that the introduction of the revised regulations will bring many more working environments within the scope of the Noise Action Levels and consequently, employers would be wise to take this fact into account in their decision making (e.g. when acquiring new equipment). They should also take this opportunity for a thorough review of the noise protection arrangements they have in place and ensure that they are providing effective protection for their employees.

Better to Protect Against Hearing Damage

Once the noise level exceeds the First Action Level an employer must provide hearing protection if employees request it.

Should the noise level exceed the Second Action Level, then an employer has to provide hearing protection, whether or not it has been requested, and must do all that is reasonably practicable to ensure employees use it properly. Under these circumstances, refusal to comply with these requirements should be a disciplinary offence.

Various types of protection are available, and it is for individual organisations to select equipment that is most appropriate for their circumstances. However, there are some basic requirements that must be met, namely:

It must be at least effective enough to reduce noise exposure below the Second Action Level
It must be compatible with any other personal protective equipment that is in use
It must be suitable for the working environment and circumstances in which it is used

However, it is important to emphasise that Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) should only ever be considered as a last resort. Before relying on PPE, employers should seek to eliminate or reduce the intensity of the noise by engineering measures, and/or reduce the time for which individual employees are exposed to the noise.

First Step Is Noise Risk Assessment

A noise assessment must be carried out by a competent person if there is reason to believe that noise exposure is likely to exceed the First Action Level. A rough indication of when this level has been reached is when people have difficulty conducting normal conversation over a distance of 2 metres.

Further assessments must be carried out if there is reason to believe other limits have been exceeded as might be the case, for example, where there are explosive noises from firearms or other cartridge-operated equipment.

As with other types of risk assessment, all findings should be properly documented (including the actual exposure calculations where they exceed the First Action Level), a prioritised action plan must be produced and the information should be made available to those who are exposed to the risks.

HSE’s Noise Exposure Calculator

The Health and Safety Executive publish a convenient spread sheet for calculating noise exposure, based on the actual noise level and the amount of time an employee is exposed to it. You can access the calculator on the HSE website at
http://www.hse.gov.uk/noise/calculator.htm

In Conclusion

Noise is a very real hazard in the workplace. The effects may take some time to become evident, but when they do it is usually too late to do anything about them.

This is a prime example of “Prevention being better than Cure” and the government is intent on raising awareness as well as raising the standards.

Contact EDP HS&E Consultants for all your health, safety and environment needs. We can check your current arrangements and advise you about any changes or improvements you need to make.

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