Dalton Acoustics Ltd – Acoustic Consultants

Noise at work

Dalton Acoustics Ltd. – provide the level of “competent” noise at work assessment / measurement required by the General Application Regulations 2007 – current legislation Safety Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007, Chapter 1 of Part 5 – Control of Noise at Work are referred to as the General Application Regulations 2007.

The General Application Regulations 2007 have revoked the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Control of Noise at Work) Regulations, 2006, NOISE AT WORK REGULATIONS

– require Employers to prevent or reduce risks to health and safety from exposure to noise at work. “Employees have duties under the Regulations too”.

Regulations Requirements on Employers are:

• Assess the risks to your employees from noise at work.
• Take action to reduce the noise exposure that produces the risks.
• Provide your employees with hearing protection if you cannot reduce the noise exposure enough by using other methods.
• Make sure the legal limits on noise exposure are not exceeded.
• Provide your employees with information, instruction & training.
• Carry our risk surveillance where there is a risk to health.

NOISE LEVELS:

What are the action levels and limit values?

Current Noise Regulations require an Employer to take “specific” action at certain action values. These relate to

• The levels of exposure to noise of your employees averaged over a working day or week; and
• The maximum noise (peak sound pressure) to which employees are exposed in a working day.

These values are:

Lower Exposure Action Values:

• Daily or weekly exposure of 80dB
• Peak sound pressure of 135dB

Upper Exposure Action Values:

• Daily or weekly exposure of 85dB
• Peak sound pressure of 137dB

There are also levels of noise exposure which must not be exceeded:

Exposure Limit Values:

• Daily or weekly exposure of 87dB
• Peak sound pressure of 140dB

“These exposure limit values take account of any reduction in exposure provided by hearing protection.

NOISE AT WORK ASSESSMENTS:

Dalton Acoustics Ltd. – provide on site acoustic measurement of the workplace environment, in accordance with the requirements of General Application Regulations 2007. This is specifically designed to provide for / assist the formulation of a risk assessment as required to provide the following data to the employer.

• Identify where there may be a risk from noise and who is likely to be affected;
   
• Contain a reliable estimate of your employee’s exposures, and compare the exposure with the exposure action values and limit values;
   
• Identify what you need to do to comply with the law, eg. Whether noise-control measures or hearing protection are needed, and, if so, where and what type; and
   
• Identify any employees who need to be provided with health surveillance and whether any are at particular risk.