• What are the effects of excessive noise?
• Dealing with noise hazards
• Noise control measures
• Audiometric testing
• Noise in industry
  • Music entertainment industry
  • Cabinet making industry
  • Metal fabrication industry
  • Road freight transport industry
  • Shooting ranges

Print-friendly page

Dealing with noise hazards

Assessing noise levels

Noise control policy
Hearing conservation program
Information and training for workers

A noise assessment should be carried out when workers and others may be exposed to excessive noise levels.

The instrument for assessing noise levels is a sound level meter (SLM) or noise dose meter (NDM). The meter is designed to measure a frequency-weighted and time-weighted value of the sound pressure level.

The general aim of a noise assessment is to:

• identify whether the noise under investigation is excessive or not
• establish the noise characteristics and the daily duration of exposure
• identify all persons likely to be exposed to excessive noise
• identify all items of plant and equipment likely to cause excessive noise
• obtain information on work practices and associated noise sources
• identify what higher order controls can be put in place to reduce noise level exposure
• check the effectiveness of measures taken to reduce noise level exposure
• choose appropriate personal hearing protectors for those workers and other persons exposed to risks from excessive noise
• define designated hearing protection areas at work.

Noise assessments should be repeated at least every five years or whenever there is:

• installation, adjustment or removal of plant
• change in work processes or plant that may impact on noise exposures
• change in workload or operating equipment that may cause change in noise levels
• change in building structure likely to impact on noise levels
• working arrangements affecting the length of time workers are exposed to noise.

Noise assessment records should be kept at the workplace in a consistent format and made available for inspection by those exposed at the workplace.

More detailed information on noise measurement and recording is available in part 1 of AS/NZS 1269 Occupational noise management (non-Queensland Government link). A person carrying out a noise assessment should meet the competency requirements set out in appendix A of part 1 of AS/NZS 1269.

Where the assessment shows that a risk exists, then elimination, engineering or administrative control measures should be implemented.

Noise control policy

An important step in managing noise in the workplace is the development of a noise control policy, which should cover:

• goals for noise exposure and peak noise levels
• design goals for new workplaces and plant
• selection and purchase of quiet plant
• noise controls for temporary work areas and situations
• agreements with contractors for the responsibility of noise control and provision of information
• audiometric testing and availability of records
• funding for a hearing conservation program
• the period of review for the hearing conservation program.

Hearing conservation program

A hearing conservation program sets out ways to achieve goals for noise exposure levels such as:

• nominating a person to be responsible for overseeing the program
• carrying out preliminary noise checks to assess if problems with noise exposure exists
• choosing the type and detail of noise assessments to be carried out
• developing a program to choose new or replacement plant to reduce noise exposure
• choosing suitable noise control measures
• choosing, providing and maintaining personal hearing protectors
• identifying hearing protection areas
• giving induction and ongoing training to workers
• providing audiometric testing at the beginning of employment to establish base level hearing and during employment to determine any hearing loss
• maintaining records in an easily understood form and available for inspection by certain persons
• check that noise control measures are maintained and operating effectively
• check noise levels to identify any hidden defects in machinery and ensure they do not cause excessive noise levels

Information and training for workers

Information and training for workers should include the following points:

• What noise is and how to assess it.
• Possible health effects due to noise.
• Social effects on the person's life, and that of family and friends, of noise induced hearing loss and tinnitus.
• Noise control policy and hearing conservation program.
• The noise exposures in the particular workplace.
• Legal responsibilities for controlling excessive noise in the workplace.
• The control measures which are used in the workplace for the protection of exposed workers.
• Specific control measures necessary for each of the exposed worker positions and the correct use, operation and maintenance of noise control equipment.
• Correct use of personal hearing protectors.
• Arrangements for reporting defects likely to cause excessive noise.

Training should be provided to managers, supervisors, workers and staff responsible for purchasing plant, noise control equipment and personal hearing protectors.

Consultation should take place between employers and workers in the planning stage about the introduction or purchase of potentially noisy plant or changes to existing plant in the workplace.