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The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005

 

These regulations are in place in order to protect people from exposure to harmful noise and the progressive effect it can have. The main requirements apply when noise exposure is likely to be at or above any of the three Action Levels (AL’s) see table for details.

Action required where LEPd to be	Below 85 dB(A)	85 dB(A) 1 st AL	90 dB(A) 2 nd AL
Employer’ duties
General Duty to reduce risk	●	●	●
Risk of hearing damage to be reduced to the lowest level reasonably practicable		●	●
Assessment of noise exposure
Noise assessments to be made by a competent person	●	●
Record of assessments to be kept until a new one has been made	●	●
Noise reduction
Reduce exposure to noise as far as is reasonably practicable by means other than ear protection	●
Provision of information to workers
Provide adequate information, instruction and training about risks to hearing, what employees should do to minimize risk, how they can obtain ear protectors if they are exposed to between 85 and 90 dB(A) and their obligation under Reg 11	●	●
Mark ear protection zones with notices, as far as is reasonably practicable		●
Ear Protectors
Ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that protectors are:
·          Provided to employees who ask for them	●
·          Provided to all exposed		●
·          Maintained and Repaired		●
·          Used by all exposed	●	●
·          Ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that all who go into a marked ear protection zone wear suitable ear protection		●
Maintenance and use of equipment
Ensure so far that is reasonably practicable, that;
·          All equipment provided under the Regs is used, except for the ear protection provided between 85 and 90 dB(A)	●	●
·          Ensure all equipment is maintained	●	●
Employees Duties
Use of equipment
So far as is reasonably practicable;
Use ear protectors		●
Use any other protective equipment	●	●
Report any defects discovered to the employer	●	●
Machine Makers’ and Suppliers Duties
Provision of information
Provide information on noise likely to be generated	●	●

(Source HSE)

Self-Employed & Home Workers

Regulation 2 requires self employed people to fulfil the responsibilities of both employer and employee. Employers must also take action to protect people who are employed by them to work at home.

More than one employer involved

Where more than one employer is involved, the regulations place duties on all employers and each will have a responsibility;

• To their own employees
• So far as is reasonably practicable, to anyone else at work who is affected by their activities

Exemptions

HSE can give exemptions to certain Regs where the exposure averaged over a week can be guaranteed to below 90 dB(A) or where ear protection would be likely to cause risk to the user, compliance is not reasonably practicable.