Introduction & Legal Requirement

Damage to hearing from exposure to noise in a work environment has lead to an increase in the number of compensation claims. Businesses now have to review their policy on noise in the workplace under the Safety Health & Welfare at Work (Control of Noise at Work) Regulations, 2006.

The noise legislation is focused on the employee exposure to noise. The first level threshold is 80 dB(A). The approach moves away from an over reliance on assessment, quantification of exposure levels and consequent hearing protection solely in the form of PPE, towards an agenda of proactive and active control and management of noise issues.

What is a Safecon Occupational Noise Assessment?

Safecon can undertake a noise at work survey for you – including fixed and personal dose monitoring – and make sure your working environments meet the legal levels.
The survey includes:

• Evaluate noise risk with fixed point and personal dose meter readings.
• Assessment of exposure levels - who might be harmed and how.
• Recommend what you need to comply with legal requirements and how to reduce noise levels.
• Documentation of new policy in conjunction with the business.
• Review assessment.

Our approach is as follows:

• Individual bespoke interviews and job role risk assessments with all permanent members of staff at your sites
• From this, recommendations for control measures, and where necessary, personal protective equipment recommendations
• Full report and action plan broken down into: Individuals needs, structural needs, environmental needs
• Series of fixed interval variable location noise level monitoring assessments during different trading periods and locations
• All work carried out by qualified and experienced acoustics consultants
• Continued service on an annual or ad hoc basis as necessary. Repeat assessments to be carried out under the constraints of legislative requirements

Do you need a noise assessment to be carried out in your place of work?

• Are your staff surrounded by intrusive noise for most of the working day?
• Are raised voice levels being to be heard at two metres away?
• Are their powered tools or machinery in use for more than 30 minutes a day?
• Do your staff work in a noisy industry such as manufacturing, nightclub, industrial process