Occupational Noise
Most people involved in health and safety are aware that new noise at work legislation came into effect in the middle of 2006. Most people are also aware that the old first and second action levels have effectively tightened up by 5 dB. There is much less awareness, however, of some additional details added to these action levels along with a new exposure limit. The HSE is also keen to emphasie certain aspects of interpretation which have perhaps been neglected with the previous regulations.
"No jargon, no waffle - just pragmatic, practical solutions that work".
Noise Control-Hearing Loss-Project Management
The New Control of Noise at Work Regulations
Equivalents of the old first and second action levels are now respectively called the Lower Action Value and the Upper Action Value. Although expressed slightly differently to the action levels of the old regulations, they are the same in that they are based upon, not measured noise levels directly, but on the exposure of a person throughout a working day or week. As before, the exposure effectively ignores any hearing protection which might be used. Also, instead of a separate peak action level, peak values have been incorporated into the action values, as summarised below.
Lower Action Value
· a daily or weekly exposure of 80 dB LEX,8h
· a peak sound pressure level of 135 dB
Upper Action Value
· a daily or weekly exposure of 85 dB LEX,8h
· a peak sound pressure level of 137 dB
Exposure Limit Value
· a daily or weekly exposure of 87 dB LEX,8h
· a peak sound pressure level of 140 dB
Exposure Limit Value is a new aspect which can allow for the presence of hearing protection but cannot be exceeded under any circumstances. In fact it is a criminal offense to do so.
The following table summarises some of the main duties/actions.
|
Action Required |
Below Any Specific Action Value |
Lower Action Value |
Upper Action Value |
Exposure Limit Value |
|
General duty to reduce risk, eg good practice in noise control. |
X |
X |
X |
X |
|
Provide Hearing Protection to Those who ask for it |
|
X |
X |
X |
|
Hearing protection to be mandatory |
|
|
X |
X |
|
Reduction of exposure (usually noise control) |
|
|
X |
X |
|
Provide information and training about the risks, etc |
|
X |
X |
X |
|
Shall not expose (criminal offence to do so) |
|
|
|
X |
ADC offers a full service from basic noise assessment, through noise control design, to the project management of the implementation of all noise control solutions:
• Occupational noise surveys.
• Ear protection analysis.
• Noise control.
• Transition between old and new regulations.
• Purchasing policies and advice.
• Project management.
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Noise Control
Noise Control is an enormously important part of ADC's expertise. Noise control at source is a particular area of specialism. Here the source of the noise, the vibrating mechanism which creates vibrations in the air, is identified and fully understood. Once the source's break out point and path to the recipient's ears is understood and ranked along with all the other sources, it is usually a relatively straightforward process to design out the source of noise or to modify it or its path to produce less noise. Noise control at source is usually considerably cheaper to implement than conventional approaches, such as enclosures, screens and barriers, and silencers.
Conventional noise control, however, does have an important place in the noise control design armoury and, as long as it is properly designed it nearly always works extremely well.
ADC offers a complete noise control service from initial noise surveys through project management and retesting, including the following:
• Noise surveys.
• Noise source identification and ranking.
• Noise control design.
• Prediction of the noise climate after noise control has been implemented.
• Project management.
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Noise Induced Hearing Loss
Prolonged exposure to noise or "acoustic shock" (sudden very loud noise such as in call centre headsets) can lead to hearing damage and/or tinnitus (ringing in the ears). In most cases the damage is gradual and not noticed until it is relatively sever. The effect is one of social isolation and often a reduced ability to work. An Ear Nose and Throat consultant will usually identify if the type of hearing damage is likely to have been noise-induced and, together with the acoustic report, a case can be built or contested.
 
ADC can offer the following services:
• Occupational noise surveys.
• Research and modeling of past noise climates.
• Ear protection analysis.
• Modeling of exposure over a working life to date
• Modeling of typical hearing loss due to exposure
• Witness statements and giving evidence in court. See Expert Witnessing
• Single Joint Expert services.
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Project Management
ADC offers a full project management service in all aspects of our work which is intended to take clients from the initial identification and assessment of a noise, acoustic or audio problem through to the implementation of the solutions and retesting to confirm that the problem has been resolved. Our services include the following:
• Noise and acoustic surveys and assessments in accordance with appropriate standards and client needs.
• Identification and ranking of problems.
• Finding, briefing, and assessing prospective contractors.
• Project control, including inspections during manufacture and installation, and dispute resolution.
• Problem solving
• Retesting and commissioning report
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