Offices Nationwide 

Workplace Noise Risk Assessments

All employers have a responsibility to carry out risk assessments in the workplace to identify any risk to health from exposure to noise. This applied to all work carried out by any employee working in a noisy environment or workplace.

Is it too loud? If noise is intrusive or you have to shout for a person to hear 2 meters then you probably need a risk assessment. We can carry out the risk assessment and provide recommendation to demonstrate compliance with the control of noise at work regulations. The regulations state the following: Lower exposure action value of 80 Lepd (or weekly) LCpeak max 135 dB.

Upper exposure action value of 85 Lepd daily (or weekly) LCpeak max 137 dB.

Exposure limit value of 87 Lepd daily (or weekly) LCpeak max 140 dB.

However both the upper exposure action value and lower exposure action value do not take into account heating protection. However the limit value does take into account hearing protection. This basically means that if you are below the 87dB you need to take action to reduce the amount of exposure the employees are exposed to.

What is the difference between the upper and lower exposure values?

If you are below the lower exposure action value then there is no risk to the employees from noise exposure. However you may still want to provide hearing protection for very noisy periods.

Above the Lower Exposure Action Value

If you above the lower exposure action value then you have to provide training, information and monitoring. Hearing protection may not be required at this stage but it is mandatory to provide the protection for those who feel it is necessary.

Above the Upper Exposure Action Value

Hearing protection zones are mandatory. Other monitoring may also be required for employees involved in working in the protection zone, this will include health monitoring of employees to ensure the hearing is not getting worse and no damage is being done. Hearing loss above this value can also indicate that the procedures in place may not be adequate.

Employers also have to take into consideration the right protection needed for the task without over protecting the employee. If the employee is over protected they may not hear vital alarms, vehicles and also feel isolated and be prone to accidents.

Note: Our engineers are accredited sound testers under the SITMA scheme.

For further Sound Testing information, be sure to check out Sound-Testing-UK.co.uk.

Workplace Noise can also be known as:
Noise At Work Assessment, Workplace Noise Risk Assessment,

E2 Specialist Consultants
August 13 at 1:29pm
Today takes 2 of our engineers, air testing this enormous modular classroom in Tring, It took 4 fans to test this space and unfortunately resulted in a Fail. Remedial sealing will be required to areas that we have identified as leaking cold air infiltration. #preperationiskey

E2 Consultants Delivering compliance solutions for Architects & Developers    Head Office E2 HOUSE, South Park Way, Wakefield 41 Business Park, WF2 0XJ    Questions? Call: 0800 043 8100

» »
Workplace Noise