Health & Safety FAQ
New Noise Regulations
What will the new noise regulations require?
The new Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 come into
force in April 2006 and implement the noise element of the Physical
Agents Directive. The aim is to protect workers from the risks to
their health and safety from exposure to noise. They will tighten
the requirements of and replace the existing Noise at Work
Regulations 1989. The regulations will require employers to take
action according to different daily, weekly and peak sound levels
in the workplace. Where noise levels vary day to day, the employer
will be able to measure the Weekly Personal Exposure to noise
(LEP,w) rather than the Daily Personal Exposure to noise
(LEP,d).
Lower Exposure Action Value (LEAV) will be set at a daily
(LEP,d) or weekly (LEP,w) personal exposure level of 80dB(A) with a
peak action level of 135dB(C). Where these levels are likely to be
exceeded, the employer must carry out a risk assessment, assess the
level of noise to which employees may be exposed and consider the
effects of such exposure and ways of reducing that exposure.
Employees must be provided with suitable information, instruction
and training; health surveillance measures must be implemented,
such as audiometry, and hearing protection must be made available
on request.
Upper Exposure Action Value (UEAV) will be set at a daily
(LEP,d) or weekly (LEP,w) personal exposure level of 85dB(A) with a
peak action level of 137dB(C). At this level the employer must take
the same actions as before while also reducing exposure to as low
as is reasonably practicable through a programme of organisational
and technical measures other than the provision of hearing
protection. The provision of hearing protection must be used only
as a last resort.
A new Noise Limit Value will be set at a daily or weekly
personal exposure level of 87dB(A) with a peak action level of
140dB(C), taking account of the attenuation levels provided by
hearing protection, which must never be exceeded.
The regulations also place a greater emphasis on consultation
between employers, employees and their representatives.
Please read legal information.