Control of Noise at Work

Exposure to high noise levels can cause irreversible hearing damage. The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 require employers to take necessary steps to reduce the exposure of employees to high noise levels in two main ways:

  • By controlling or eliminating the noise at source
  • By the use of personal hearing protection, e.g. ear plugs or ear defenders

In addition to completing your workplace noise assessment to comply with the regulations, Dragonfly Acoustics can provide a tailored noise management scheme, together with training, to facilitate ongoing monitoring of employee noise exposure.

The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005, impose the following limits on employees exposure to noise. In summary the limits are:

Lower Exposure Action Value

  1. a daily or weekly personal noise exposure of 80 dB (A-weighted); and
  2. a peak sound pressure of 135 dB (C-weighted)

Upper Exposure Action Values

  1. a daily or weekly personal noise exposure of 85 dB (A-weighted); and
  2. a peak sound pressure of 137 dB (C-weighted)

Exposure Limit Values

  1. a daily or weekly personal noise exposure of 87 dB (A-weighted); and
  2. a peak sound pressure of 140 dB (C-weighted)

The limit value will take into account the reduction afforded by hearing protection.