Noise at work
Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005
The regulations setting daily noise exposure action values at 80 and 85 dB(A) and a limit at 87 dB(A), with duties to assess, control, provide hearing protection and health surveillance.
Noise-induced hearing loss is permanent, cumulative and very common in construction. The regulations set a lower exposure action value of 80 dB(A) daily personal exposure (assess, provide hearing protection on request, inform and train), an upper action value of 85 dB(A) (reduce exposure by means other than hearing protection so far as reasonably practicable, mark and enforce hearing protection zones, provide health surveillance), and an exposure limit of 87 dB(A) taking hearing protection into account, which must not be exceeded. Peak values apply to impulsive noise such as cartridge tools.
Because the scale is logarithmic, every 3 dB doubles the energy and halves the time to reach an action value: eight hours at 85, four at 88, two at 91, one at 94. A disc cutter at around 95 dB(A) reaches the upper action value in under an hour. The daily figure, LEP,d, combines every noisy activity in the shift. Controls at source (quieter plant, enclosures, distance, maintenance, job rotation) come before hearing protection, and where protection is used it must be the right attenuation, worn for the whole exposure, and compatible with other PPE.
Where it comes from
- Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 regs.4 to 10.
- HSE guidance L108 (Controlling noise at work).
Questions people ask
Is 85 dB(A) the limit?
No, 85 is the upper action value, where you must reduce exposure by other means and enforce hearing protection. The limit is 87 dB(A) measured at the ear inside the protection. In practice, if you are relying on protection to stay under 87, your controls are not good enough.
Why does a few dB matter so much?
Decibels are logarithmic. 88 dB(A) is twice the sound energy of 85. Each 3 dB halves the safe exposure time. That is why choosing a quieter tool is worth more than it looks.
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