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Chapter 12
Glossary
A-weighting
See ‘Frequency Weighted Filter’.
Action Values
The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 stipulates the following action
values: -
Lower Action Values (LAV)
•
A daily or weekly personal noise exposure (Lep,d) of 80dB (A-weighted)
•
A peak sound pressure of 130dB (C-weighted)
Upper Action Values (UAV)
•
A daily or weekly personal noise exposure (Lep,d) of 85dB (A-weighted)
•
A peak sound pressure of 137dB (C-weighted)
Exposure Limit Values (ELV)
•
A daily or weekly personal noise exposure (Lep,d) of 87dB (A-weighted)
•
A peak sound pressure of 140dB (C-weighted)
Action values are the levels of exposure to noise at which you are required to
take certain actions to protect your employees.
The limit value is the level of exposure to noise above which an employee must
not be exposed to, taking into account the use of hearing protection.
The use of hearing protectors is a last resort for employees to take to reduce
employee exposure. Reasonable steps should be taken to reduce the noise at
source beforehand.
If an exposure limit value is exceeded when taking account of hearing protection
then exposures must be reduced immediately, with work stopping if necessary.
See a copy of the ‘Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005’ for further
information if required.
