2. Responsibilities
Obligation holders
Information
Consultation
Training
2.1 Obligation holders
The following persons have responsibilities under the Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995 to ensure protection for workers from excessive noise:
- employers
- persons conducting a business or undertaking
- persons in control of workplaces
- principal contractors
- designers, manufacturers and suppliers of plant
- erectors and installers of plant
- workers and other persons at a workplace
A complete list of obligations is contained in appendix 2.
Steps these persons can take to manage noise exposure at work include:
- carrying out a risk assessment to determine the risks from noise exposure
- developing a noise control policy and hearing conservation program
- providing workers with information on noise, the risks from noise exposure and the control measures put in place at the workplace.
Information
Providing information about noise is one way to help ensure workers’ health and safety. Information can be in different forms, for example, brochures, guides, signs, symbols, diagrams and videos. Most importantly, information should be easy to understand. This means considering the literacy levels and different languages used by workers.
Information can include:
- what noise is
- the range of health effects that can result from exposure to noise
- disadvantages to a person’s work and social life due to adverse health effects from noise exposure
- details about noise exposure at the workplace
- reasons for using noise control measures
- specific control measures
required for each worker's job
(this may include instruction in
the correct use and maintenance
of noise control equipment and
correct methods of operation for minimising noise levels) - the noise control policy and
hearing conservation program
and timetable for future
improvements - the arrangements for reporting defects likely to cause excessive noise at work
- when and how to use personal hearing protectors provided and their proper care and maintenance
- obligations of obligation holders and workers.
Consultation
Consultation between obligation holders (particularly employers) and workers at the workplace can help achieve workplace health and safety. Consultation should take place early in the planning stage for the introduction or purchase of any potentially noisy plant or changes to existing plant at the workplace.
Consultation with those affected should be undertaken when a risk assessment is being carried out at the workplace.
Consultation is effective when:
- workers have an opportunity to participate in consultation
- there is a workplace health and safety officer and/or workplace health and safety representative who has access to relevant information on noise risks at the workplace and enough time to consider the implications of this information.
Training
Training workers is an important part of a prevention strategy that can help achieve workplace health and safety.
The objectives of training should be:
- to minimise noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) and tinnitus by an approach that emphasises engineering noise control measures;
- to recognise and promote an understanding of the nature of noise-related health effects, including the cumulative effects of workplace noise and other exposures to noise such as domestic and leisure activities and ototoxins;11 and
- to promote the adoption of a systematic approach to the management of exposure to excessive noise.
Those who require training include:
- managers and supervisors of workers who may be exposed to risks from exposure to excessive noise at work
- workers who may be at risk from exposure to excessive noise and/or ototoxins at work
- workplace health and safety committees and workplace health and safety representative(s)
- staff responsible for purchasing plant, noise control equipment, personal hearing protectors and design, layout, organisation and scheduling of work
Training methods, content and materials will vary for each group in the organisation and should be tailored to meet specific needs. The workplace noise control policy and hearing conservation program should be readily available to all participants.
Topics that should be covered in training include:
- the effects of noise on hearing and health and the occupational and social effects of NIHL;
- the obligations of employers and workers;
- an overview of the noise control policy and hearing conservation program for the workplace;
- the nature and location of noise hazards in the workplace associated with the technology, plant and/or work practices workers use at work;
- the nature of the general noise control measures in use or planned for the workplace. The specific control measures necessary in each worker’s own job (this can include instruction in the correct use and maintenance of exhaust silencers, enclosures and other measures that minimise noise levels);
- when and how to use personal hearing protectors provided (this can include selection – for example, what types are available - fitting, proper care and maintenance);
- the arrangements for reporting defects in plant or the workplace that are likely to cause exposure to excessive noise;
- the purpose and nature of audiometric testing;12 and
- reasons why levels of noise above LAeq,8h of 85 dB(A) and LC,peak 140 dB(C) are ‘excessive’ and create risks to workplace health and safety.
11 'ototoxin' means a chemical that may cause hearing loss, independent of noise exposure, or which may potentiate noise-induced hearing loss by synergistic effects.
12 'audiometric test' means the measurement of the hearing threshold levels of a person by means of monaural pure tone air conduction threshold test.
Last updated 21 August 2008