Personal noise exposure assessment tips for employers in the UK

Being exposed to noise at work puts people at risk of developing hearing damage and other hearing-related problems. The damage occupational hearing loss creates can be permanent and disabling. The Control of Noise at Work Regulations (2005), commonly shortened to the Noise Regulations, are designed to eliminate the risk of occupational hearing damage through exposure to noise at work.
An essential component of the Noise Regulations is to carry out personal noise exposure measurement and assessment regularly and accurately.

To help employers conduct a personal noise exposure assessment correctly and accurately, take a look at the following personal noise exposure assessment tips.

Use professional and high-quality noise level meters

Measuring personal noise exposure efficiently requires the use of high quality noise level meters that are designed to conform with Noise Regulations.

Professional noise measuring instruments, which comprise of a highly precise microphone, should be used within a working environment. When used correctly, professional and industry-compliant sound level meters help employers identify areas at work, where noise levels are a problem.

Quality sound level meters are an ideal tool in monitoring personal noise exposure and measuring noise at work as part of an employee’s noise assessment responsibilities.

Use noise doseBadges

DoseBadges can be extremely effective in personal noise exposure assessment. A doesBadge is a wireless personal noise dosimeter. This innovative instrument is designed to measure and assess the personal noise exposure of employees working in various industries and throughout all locations.
Being free of cables, small, light and extremely portable, the doseBadge provides accurate personal noise exposure measurement over a period of time. These wireless noise measuring instruments are particularly effective in workplaces where the personal noise exposure levels of employees fluctuates throughout the day and varies significantly from place to place.

Take action to reduce health and safety risks through personal noise exposure

If, after carrying out accurate personal noise exposure assessments, employees are found to be at risk through being exposed to levels of noise deemed as dangerous, employers must take action to reduce the risks.

Such action includes ensuring legal noise exposure limits are not exceeded. It also includes producing workers with hearing protection if their personal noise exposure is found to be high and puts them at risk.

Further action includes carrying out health and safety surveillance, replacing noise machinery with quieter alternatives or putting noise dampers on equipment to ‘dampen’ the noise. Employers should also be provided with information, instruction and training related to personal noise exposure at work and what to do to reduce the risks.

In Britain, more than two million people are believed to be exposed to dangerously high levels of noise at work on a regular basis. Conducting personal noise exposure measurement regularly and following up the findings of the personal noise exposure assessments with the correct action, will prevent employees from having their hearing damaged through noise exposure at work.