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Dr Alistair Bromhead Health, Safety & Environmental Consultant |
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Noise surveys The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 require that if daily personal noise exposure is likely to be 80dB(A) or above, a noise assessment must be conducted by a competent person. 80 dB(A) very roughly equates to the noise level where conversation is possible with a person 2 meters away, but noise is intrusive. Noise surveys typically involve taking a range of instant readings around the workplace to create a noise map. Personal dose-metering may also be undertaken to provide personal exposure levels over the working day to compare with the legal limits. The results of the survey will be summarised in a report which includes recommendations and an action plan. The latter will often involve the designation of hearing protection zones in areas where thresholds are likely to be exceeded. It should be noted that the noise thresholds in the UK were significantly tightened in February 2006, when the second action level (at which hearing protection becomes compulsory) was reduced by 5 dB(A) which is a 60% reduction. Therefore, areas which did not previously need to be designated as hearing protection zones may need to be controlled in this manner. Alistair Bromhead is an Institute of Acoustics certified competent person for the conduct of noise assessments. For further details please contact Alistair Bromhead - 07932 674 707 |
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