Wokingham Borough Council
Health and Safety Manual for Schools
Standards and guidance
NOISE AT WORK
HEADTEACHER CHECKLIST


Conduct a risk assessment if there are indications of a noise
problem

Implement noise reduction control measures

Select suitable hearing protection and consult with staff

Issue hearing protection to relevant staff; provide storage
information, instruction and training

Make sure staff are wearing their hearing protection correctly

Provide health surveillance if required

Keep your noise risk assessment under review


Make it a policy to purchase quieter equipment and machinery
wherever possible
Document your local health and safety procedure for noise at work
Issue date:
November 2012
Review date: July 2014
Noise at work
Wokingham Borough Council
Health and Safety Manual for Schools
Standards and guidance
NOISE AT WORK
Introduction
Permanent loss or damage to hearing can have a devastating effect on the quality of
people’s lives. In the context of a workplace, employers have a duty to protect their
employees from noise whilst their employees are required to play their part in
avoiding work related noise induced hearing damage.
The law
The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 applies to all workplaces and, with
effect from April 2008, the requirements now extend to the music and entertainment
sectors.
Where there is a risk that employees may have their hearing damaged by noise
levels at work, employers must carry out an assessment of those noise levels and
introduce appropriate measures to control the risk. Employees have duties under the
Regulations too.
The Regulations do not apply to members of the public exposed to noise from their
non-work activities or making an informed choice to go to noisy places.
What is noise and how is it measured?
Noise is an unwanted sound; its intensity (loudness) is measured in decibels (dB).
The decibel scale is logarithmic so a three-decibel increase in sound level may seem
like a small difference but it is in fact quite significant as it represents a doubling of
the noise intensity. To take into account the fact that the human ear has different
sensitivities to different frequencies, the strength or intensity of noise is usually
measured in ‘A-weighted’ decibels dB(A). A ‘C-weighting’, written as dB(C), is used
to measure peak, impact or explosive noises. Both measures are important in
relation to the Regulation’s exposure limits and action values.
It is not just the intensity that determines whether noise is hazardous. The duration
of exposure is also very important. To take this into account, time-weighted average
sound levels are used.
What could be the effects of noise exposure?
The effects include:

noise induced hearing loss can be permanent; once ears have been damaged by
noise there is no cure;

temporary hearing loss should be treated as a sign that continued exposure to the
noise concerned may lead to permanent hearing damage;
Issue date:
November 2012
Review date: July 2014
Noise at work
Wokingham Borough Council
Health and Safety Manual for Schools
Standards and guidance
NOISE AT WORK

loud noise can also cause permanent tinnitus, a distressing condition with
continous ringing, whistling, buzzing or humming in the ears;

hearing loss can occur without long-term exposures. Brief exposures to impulsive
noises can also have permanent effects;

noise can be a safety hazard; it can interfere with communication and make
warning signals harder to hear;

noise, including low level noise, can be a causal factor in work-related stress.
Action levels and limit values
The Regulations require specific action at certain action values relating to the levels
of noise exposure averaged over a working day or week and the maximum noise
(peak sound pressure) to which employees are exposed in a working day. Use of a
weekly exposure, rather than a daily exposure, may be appropriate where exposure
to noise varies from day to day e.g. the use of power tools on one day but not on
others.
Lower exposure action values:


a daily or weekly personal noise exposure of 80dB(A)
a peak sound pressure of 135 dB(C)
Upper exposure action values:


a daily or weekly personal noise exposure of 85dB(A)
a peak sound pressure of 137 dB(C)
There are also levels of noise exposure which must not be exceeded:
Exposure limit values:


a daily or weekly personal noise exposure of 87 dB(A)
a peak sound pressure of 140 dB(C)
These exposure limit values take account of any reduction in exposure provided by
hearing protection.
How to gauge if a noise problem exists
As a simple ‘rule of thumb’, noise is likley to be a problem where people are
surrounded by intrusive noise for most of the working day; have to raise their voices
to be heard by someone just two metres away for at least part of the day or use noisy
powered tools or machinery for more than 30 minutes a day.
Issue date:
November 2012
Review date: July 2014
Noise at work
Wokingham Borough Council
Health and Safety Manual for Schools
Standards and guidance
NOISE AT WORK
Some examples of typical noise levels are shown in the diagram below.
Example of typical noise levels in dB(A)
In a typical school setting, the roles where noise exposure could be an issue might
include technicians, music teachers, site controllers and possibly swimming teachers.
Responsibilities of Headteachers
If the ‘rule of thumb’ applies, Headteachers will need to assess the risks to decide
whether any further action is needed and develop a plan.
Your risk assessment should:

identify where there may be a risk from noise and who is likely to be affected;

contain a reliable estimate of your staff member’s exposures to noise and
compare those exposures with the action values and limit values. In many cases
actual noise measurements will not be necessary and sufficient information about
noise emissions can be obtained from equipment manufacturers and suppliers;

identify what you need to do to comply with the law e.g. whether noise control
measures or hearing protection are needed, and, if so, where and what type;

identify any staff who need to be provided with health surveillance and whether
they are at particular risk;

be carried out by your trained risk assessor. Should there be a need for
professional noise measurements, contact the Corporate Health and Safety
Service for further advice;

be recorded and reveiwed annually and if circumstances change and the noise
exposures are affected.
Issue date:
November 2012
Review date: July 2014
Noise at work
Wokingham Borough Council
Health and Safety Manual for Schools
Standards and guidance
NOISE AT WORK
The findings of the risk assessment and the action plan should be communicated to
the staff affected and their Safety Representatives.
Reducing noise levels
You should look for alternative processes, equipment and/or working methods to
reduce the noise or reduce people’s exposure times. There are four main ways of
limiting or controlling noise:

reduction of noise at source;

isolation of the source of noise;

reduction of the time employees are exposed; and

ear protection for employees at risk.
These methods should be considered as hierarchical, i.e. personal protective
equipment should only be used as a last resort.
Reducing noise levels – teaching music
Teachers of music can be exposed to high levels of noise at work; however, they are
ways of controlling and reducing the risks. The steps that could be taken to reduce
exposure to noise include:

noise consideration in lesson planning e.g. alternate loud and quiet sessions;

the use of acoustic controls including screens, drapery and flooring;

music rooms fitted with sound absorbent materials and other acoustic
treatments.
The Sound Advice website provides practical guidance on controlling noise in the
music and entertainment sectors including the teaching of music in schools and
colleges. The guidance, developed by music professionals and the HSE, can be
accessed by clicking here for the Sound Advice website.
Hearing protection
Headteachers are required to:

provide staff with hearing protectors if they ask for it and their noise exposure is
between the lower and upper exposure action values;

provide staff with hearing protectors and make sure they use them properly when
their noise exposure exceeds the upper exposure action values;

identify hearing protection zones ie. areas where the use of hearing protection is
compulsory and mark them with signs if possible;
Issue date:
November 2012
Review date: July 2014
Noise at work
Wokingham Borough Council
Health and Safety Manual for Schools
Standards and guidance
NOISE AT WORK

provide hearing protection that meets with European standards, is appropriate for
the type and duration of the noise, is compatible with any other personal
protective equipment and give staff a choice so they can select the most
comfortable solution;

provide staff with training and information on how to use and care for their hearing
protection; and

ensure that staff use their hearing protection and that it is properly maintained.
Information, instruction and training
In order for individuals to understand the level of risk they may be exposed to, how it
is caused and the possible effects and consequences, it is important they are
provided with adequate information, instruction and training where they are likely to
be exposed to noise levels at or above the lower exposure action value.
Such information, instruction and training must include:

the nature of the risks;

the measures taken to eliminate or control noise levels;

details of the exposure action values;

the availability, provision and correct use of personal hearing protectors;

how to report defects in hearing protectors and noise control equipment;

the entitlement to health surveillance; and,

what symptoms of hearing loss to look out for and whom to report problems to.
Health surveillance
Health surveillance, undertaken by an occupational health professional, should be
provided for any employee who may be regularly exposed to noise above the upper
exposure action value.
Individuals exposed at levels between the upper and lower exposure action values
may also be considered at risk if there is evidence of any previous history of
exposure to high noise levels.
Purchase and hire of equipment and machinery
It is possible to avoid noise problems by ensuring that noise reduction is considered
at an early stage of the selection process. Prospective suppliers should be asked to
provide information about noise emissions under actual working conditions as well as
any specific instructions for installation and assembly that reduce noise.
Issue date:
November 2012
Review date: July 2014
Noise at work
Wokingham Borough Council
Health and Safety Manual for Schools
Standards and guidance
NOISE AT WORK
Employees’ duties
As an employee you are required to properly use any hearing protection that you are
given and look after it and report any defects in equipment or systems of work to the
Headteacher or your line manager.
Further information and advice
Email: [email protected] or telephone HR Enquiries on (0118) 974
6116.
Issue date:
November 2012
Review date: July 2014
Noise at work