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.

Why it is important employers conduct regular equivalent sound level assessment

Noise levels fluctuate over periods of time. Equivalent Continuous Sound Level (Leq) is the phrase used to describe sound levels that fluctuate over time. Leq results in a single decibel value, which takes into account the total levels of noise produced over a period of time.

As noise levels vary over time equivalent sound level measurement is important to ensure we have an accurate assessment of noise levels being produced over a given period. For example, during the middle of the night, noise levels are typically much lower than during the day. Though noise level variations are not just confined to night and day. Work places typically experience noise level fluctuations throughout the working day. For example, with deliveries taking place and various machinery be used intermittently, a factory or building site will comprise of different noise emissions throughout the day or week.

Given the variable nature of noise, particularly within a working environment, it is important that equivalent sound level assessment is carried out.

Continuous noise level meters play a vital role in equivalent sound level measurement. These highly-precise continuous noise level meters follow all fluctuations of noise. The noise data collected through the equivalent sound level assessment is stored in the memory of these accurate noise measuring devices. When all the necessary sound level measurement has been carried out, the continuous sound meter calculates an ‘average energy’ or an Leq value.

A continuous noise level meter converts the dB values to sound pressure levels. This advanced device then adds up all the sound pressure levels and divides them by the number of noise samples. The continuous noise level meter then converts this equivalent level back to decibels.

The Noise at Work Regulations 2005 are designed to help protect employees’ hearing by enforcing employers to take the necessary steps and precautions to ensure workers are not exposed to potentially damaging levels of noise.

The Noise at Work Regulations set noise exposure action values and exposure limit values. The lower noise exposure action values are 80dB(A) of daily or weekly personal noise exposure, with a peak sound pressure of 135 db(C). The upper exposure action values are 85dB(A) of daily or weekly personal noise exposure, with a peak sound pressure of 137dB(C).

Noise exposure limits are set at 87 dB(A) of daily or weekly noise exposure, with a peak sound pressure of 140 dB(C).

It is permitted that the use of weekly personal noise exposure value may be used in work-based situations where noise varies significantly throughout the day.

The noise we are exposed to varies significantly throughout each day and night. For companies operating in noisy environments, it is important equivalent sound level measurement is regularly carried out so employers have an accurate assessment of noise fluctuations throughout the day. Only with regular and accurate equivalent sound level measurement can employees’ hearing be sufficiently safeguarded from work inducing hearing loss.

How to make accurate audio noise measurement?

Audio noise measurement is required in many different environments and situations. For example, noise pollution, the intensity of noise being produced in a specific environment, requires measurement to ensure noise pollution is monitored and curtailed. The same can be said in an occupational setting, in which the audio decibel levels, commonly abbreviated to audio db levels, need to be measured and monitored in order to ensure the hearing of workers is not put at risk.
The accurate measurement of audio db levels is therefore imperative in numerous different settings and for a variety of reasons, many of which are related to health and safety standards.

How do we measure audio levels?

Audio noise measurement is typically conducted by audio level meters, also known as sound meters and noise level meters, which measure the decibel levels produced in an area. These hand-held instruments comprise of a microphone, which accurately measure and records sound decibel levels.
An audio level meter is a small device that measures the level of decibels, the unit of measurement that signifies the loudness of a sound, being produced by a particular activity, piece of equipment or process.

Calibration

It is important, not only that the user of an audio level meter understands how to operate these devices and record the audio db levels, but also that the device is calibrated before every use. An audio level calibrator, also known as a sound level calibrator or an acoustic calibrator, is a handheld instrument which emits a highly accurate level and frequency of an audible tone. A calibrator is fitted across the microphone of an audio level meter and the reading of the meter is checked either automatically by the meter or manually by the operator.

Noise level dosimeters are a type of audio level meter, with a principle difference of being a more mobile piece of audio noise measurement equipment. Being worn on the clothing or helmet of an employee, health or safety manager, or another individual, noise dosimeters measure and monitor audio db levels in which the individual is exposed to throughout the whole duration of wearing the noise dosimeter.

This provides an accurate mobile audio noise measurement, which proves particularly invaluable in ensuring audio db levels are measured throughout the whole of a working environment and during the whole of a working day.

Failing to conduct regular and accurate audio noise measurement can create a whole host of problems. One of the principle purposes of audio level meters is to accurately measure noise at work exposure to ensure the noise employees are exposed to throughout a working day does not exceed the limits set by health and safety regulations. Failing to make regular noise at work assessments can result in the hearing of employees becoming damaged and the company responsible for the hearing loss prosecuted for health and safety negligence.

It is therefore imperative that in workplaces regularly exposed to loud noise, regular and accurate audio noise measurement is carried out.

What is the best instrument for controlling sound?

Controlling sound is important in order to reduce noise pollution and decrease the impact noise has both in external and internal environment. Controlling noise is particularly important in occupational settings, where exposure to loud volumes of noise can be detrimental to people’s health. Accurate and efficient noise control requires sound monitoring instruments to measure and gather data related to the decibels being produced in an area.

The most widely used instrument that assess sound accurately is a sound level meter. A noise or sound level meter is a device which is used to make frequency-weighted sound level measurements, which are displayed in decibels.

This vital instrument to controlling noise contains a microphone, which picks up the intensity of the decibels within its range. This widely-used instrument to controlling noise is small, hand-held and easy to carry around. The sound level meter is used by many health and safety professionals in order to get accurate assessments of the sound produced in an occupation setting. If the noise created in a working environment is shown to be above the limits put in place by occupational noise health and safety standards, the employer must take action to reduce the noise levels and protect the hearing of employees.

Another instrument to controlling sound that is a slight variation of the noise level meter is the sound dosimeter. The dosimeter is a purpose-build instrument that assess sound. It is typically smaller than a sound level meter and is designed to be worn by an employee, usually via a short cable that is clipped to an employee’s helmet or shirt. The dosimeter is worn by the employee for the duration of their working day.

By travelling around with a worker, this instrument to controlling noise level measures the noise levels an employee is exposed to throughout the whole of the working day and in each area the individual works in.

This highly precise instrument to controlling noise is often used in conjunction with a computer or external data device, to download the noise measuring data to and store the information.
Noise level meters and sound dosimeters are cost-effective and efficient devices in measuring and controlling sound in occupational settings. Being such accurate and easy to use sound monitoring devices, the noise level meter and sound dosimeter, enable employers and health and safety professionals to gather noise levels quickly. By logging sound levels over a given period, employers can then assess the sound and compare it against health and safety regulations to see whether the noise levels produced in the workplace complies with the limits set by official regulations or exceed them.

If the instrument that assess the sound reveal the noise exceeds the levels deemed as safe, action must be carried out to give employees hearing protection and/or reduce the noise levels. Failing to take action can lead to an employer being prosecuted for not complying with current health and safety standards and regulations. Sound level meters and noise dosimeters can be purchased through noise instrument distributors.

The noise dosebadge: What it is and how it can be used for occupational noise measurements

The noise dosebadge is considered to be the original wireless noise dosemeter. Like the noise level meter, a noise dosebadge is an invaluable instrument in conducting occupational noise measurements. However, noise dosebadges and noise dosimeters have one distinct advantage over noise sound level meters when used for occupational noise measurement - they take transportable noise measurements.

Changing dynamics of the workplace

The increase in completely mechanised production lines we have seen in recent decades, has led to the dynamics of the factory and other industrial or manufacturing settings, changing. Workers are no longer required to stay in the same position on a production line for the entirety of their working shift.
Today, there is much more flexibility and manoeuvrability within the workplace. As production lines become increasingly more mechanised, employees are often required to supervise or operate more than one automatic pieces of equipment. By moving from one area to another, employees are exposed to different levels of noise.

This is when the noise dosemeter can prove invaluable. Unlike the sound level meter, which is typically a hand-held device, the noise dosemeter is worn on the clothing of an employee. This small sound measuring instrument therefore travels with the employee. The microphone located in the noise dosebadge picks up the soundwaves and enables sound measurements and noise exposure to be taken throughout the whole of the working day.

The noise dosebadge is simple in its design. Despite its small size and being light in weight, the noise dosebadge is robust, providing an accurate noise measurement.

Like the noise dosemeter, the noise dosebadge is wireless, and does not comprise of any controls, cables or displays, ensuring it can be worn without getting in the way and causing a hindrance.

These dual channel devices not only measure the levels of noise in different areas, but they can store and calculate various sound measurement parameters, which can be vital in helping employers comply with occupational noise standards and regulations.

Noise dosemeter calibration

In order for noise dosemeters and noise dosebadges to maintain their accuracy, it is vital they are regularly calibrated. Occupational noise regulations stipulate that noise measuring devices, such as sound level meter, noise dosemeters and noise dosebadges, are calibrated regularly.

It is advised that these high-precision instruments are calibrated at least once a year. However, some regulations require this sound measuring equipment to be calibrated before and after every use.

Carrying out noise dosemeter calibration mean users check the general performance and condition of the noise dosemeter, noise dosebadge or sound level meter. The calibrator is placed over the device’s microphone and emits a stable and accurate tone. The user can then check the performance of the noise dose meter or other noise measurement device.

Occupational noise can be a hazard. Regular, efficient and accurate noise level measuring will help employers comply with noise at work regulations and help maintain thehealth and wellbeing of  employees.

Storing noise levels with a datalogging noise level meter

For anybody wanting to measure noise levels, sound level monitors are used to accurately measure and store the noise level data. These highly precise instruments work by the soundwaves being picked up by a microphone in the device. The level of the noise in a room or area is then displayed in decibels on the screen of the sound meter. The user can then use the data to evaluate the noise in an environment and deem whether further action is required to reduce or eliminate noise levels.

Datalogging is a term that is used in association with noise level meters. Datalogging refers to the collection of data over a specific period of time. A datalogging noise meter is effectively a noise measurement instrument which, as well as monitoring sound decibels being produced in an area, logs the sound measurement data. This allows the user of the datalogging noise level meter to have records of the sound levels, which are accurate, can be recalled with ease, and are conveniently stored.

A datalogging noise level monitor is an advanced device, which is equipped with internal memory that stores the data recorded within the machine. Instead of having to store the data on an external device, such as a memory stick, PC, or notebook, datalogging noise level meter users have all the information related to the noise measurement activities recorded in one convenient location.
Furthermore, reports related to datalogging noise control can be created with ease from a datalogging noise meter and shared with colleagues, managers, health and safety professionals, or anybody requiring to view the information about sound measurement.

Datalogging noise control

Datalogging is an extremely important part of noise control. We may want to control noise levels for a whole host of reasons. The principle reasons for noise control are to reduce noise pollution and to reduce the impact of occupational or environmental noise.

Noise control is a set of strategies and techniques to help reduce the intensity of sound. In an occupational setting, datalogging noise control is required for employers to remain compliant with the Control of Noise at Work regulations. These regulations are designed to protect employees from noise. In order to protect the hearing of workers, accurate noise assessments must be carried out, recorded and analysed.

A datalogging noise meter is an important instrument in the accurate assessment and evaluation of noise measurement data. These advanced and precise devices not only inform employers of the noise levels being produced in a workspace, but they also record and store the noise measurement data meaning users can locate, analyse and share this important data with ease.

This datalogging noise control data is used to determine whether an employer is required to take further action to safeguard employees from high volumes of noise. This action can range from providing employees with health and safety information, to handing out hearing protection equipment and installing hearing protection zones, depending on the levels of noise the datalogging noise level monitor has recorded.

Why do we need the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005?

On April 6, 2006, the Control of Noise at Work regulations 2005 came into force in all industry sectors in Britain, apart from the entertainment and music industry. The entertainment and music industry’s Noise at Work regulations were enforced on the sector in April 2008.

The purpose of the Control of Noise at Work regulations, commonly shortened to the Noise Regulations, is to protect the hearing of workers from excessive noise levels whilst they are at work. Being exposed to loud volumes of noise regularly, can lead to permanent hearing loss or to a condition known as tinnitus, a constant ringing in the ears.

The Control of Noise at Work regulation 2005 replaced the previous control of noise at work directive of 1989.

The control of noise

The 2005 regulations stipulate a series of standards which employers of all industrial sectors, as well as the entertainment and music sector, must conform to in order to remain compliant and protect the hearing of their workers.

The principle stipulation of the regulations is the level of decibels regarded as actionable. If a daily or weekly average noise exposure level reaches 85 decibels or above, an employer has a legal duty to provide employees with hearing protection. If the average weekly or daily exposure of noise levels reach 80 decibels, under the Control of Noise at Work regulation 2005, an employer must provide information and training to their employees. An exposure limit is also in place of 87 decibels, which takes into account the reduction of the noise level hearing protection may provide. Employers are prohibited from allowing workers to be exposed to 87 decibels of noise or higher.

Why do we need to control noise at work?

The control of noise at work is vitally important to help safeguard workers’ hearing and maintain health and safety standards within work-based settings.

Official statistics show that during 2015, an estimated 20,000 people in the UK suffered from noise-induce hearing loss (NIHL). This information was based on findings from the Labour Force Survey.
However, improvements are continuing to be made in relation to NIHL, thanks to the effort to the control of noise at work. For example, data shows that in 2015 there were 100 new NIHL claims made to the Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit Scheme, compared to 130 in 2014 and 120 in 2013. During the past decade, the number of workers claiming NHIL has declined.

Nonetheless, there are still too many cases related to NIHL in Britain, despite stringent control of noise at work regulations. It is therefore crucial that employers actively conform to the control of noise at work stipulations by assessing the intensity of the noise being produced in their working environment. Once an employer knows what noise levels are being created, they can take the necessary action required by the control of noise at work regulation 2005 to ensure the hearing health of employees is safeguarded and their company remains compliant with health and safety laws.