General Construction Activities
78 dB(A)
A typical level for general construction activities on a UK site, how quickly a day at that level crosses each action value, the hearing protection that fits it, and the controls that reduce it at source.
Hearing protection
None required (below lower EAV)
Controls at source
- Below action level.
- Monitor if combined with intermittent noisy tasks.
Questions people ask
How long can someone do general construction activities before it is a problem?
At a typical 78 dB(A), the daily exposure reaches the 80 dB(A) lower action value after a full 8-hour shift or more, the 85 dB(A) upper action value after a full 8-hour shift or more and the 87 dB(A) limit value after a full 8-hour shift or more, if nothing else noisy happens that day. Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005. Guidance, not legal advice.
What hearing protection is right for this?
None required (below lower EAV). The protection has to bring the level at the ear under 87 dB(A) without over-protecting to the point where people cannot hear a reversing alarm or a shout. Match the SNR to the level, do not just hand out the heaviest defenders in the van.
Does hearing protection count towards the action values?
No. The 80 and 85 dB(A) action values are assessed at the ear without protection, because the law wants noise reduced at source first. Only the 87 dB(A) limit value takes protection into account.
Why does 3 dB matter so much?
Decibels are logarithmic. Every 3 dB doubles the sound energy, so the time to reach an action value halves. Dropping a task from 95 to 92 dB(A) with a quieter blade or a screen buys twice the working time before the same exposure is reached.
Is a survey needed?
The library level is typical for the activity. If your estimate lands anywhere near 85 dB(A), measure it with a calibrated meter on your site; the actual level depends on the tool, the material and the surroundings.
The noise assessment writes itself
Pick the plant and the tasks in the SiteLynx RAMS editor and the noise assessment fills in with the levels, the exposure and the hearing protection zone note. 14 days free.
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