Lockton Health and Safety Manual

HSP5 Noise in the Workplace  Introduction 

Employers have a legal duty to protect their employees and others  from the harmful effects of unwanted noise in the workplace.   The important factors when assessing risks from noise are the  intensity of the noise ‐ measured in decibels – dB(A), and how long  individuals are exposed to the noise – on a daily basis and over a  number of years.  These levels are expressed as a daily personal  exposure level (LEP,d)   The preferred approach is to eliminate or minimise the noise at  source.  However, if the noise cannot be adequately attenuated by  all reasonably practical means, the employer must provide personal  hearing protection in the form of ear plugs, ear muffs or the  equivalent.   In terms of eliminating or minimising noise at source, the first  consideration is at the equipment purchasing stage, when noise  levels should be an important consideration in selecting from  competing products   Definitions  Noise ‐ In terms of health and safety, Noise is defined as “Unwanted  Noise”.  The sense of being unwanted includes the potential for excessive  noise to cause deterioration in the sensitivity of a person’s hearing.   This can develop into permanent damage, referred to as Noise  Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL).  

Regulation 4 of the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005  (Currently Statutory Instrument 2005 No. 1643) determines:

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