17
Compliance with the Control of Noise at Work Regulations
The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 (the
Noise Regulations
[1]
) came into
force for all industry sectors in Great Britain on 6 April 2006. The Control of Noise at
Work Regulations 2005 replaces the Noise at Work Regulations 1989.
The aim of the Noise Regulations is to ensure that workers’ hearing is protected from
excessive noise at their place of work, which could cause them to lose their hearing
and/or to suffer from tinnitus (permanent ringing in the ears)
The level at which employers much provide hearing protection and hearing protection
zones is now 85 decibels (daily or weekly average exposure) and the level at which
employers must assess the risk to workers’ health and provide them with information
and training is now 80 decibels. There is also an exposure limit value of 87 decibels,
taking account of any reduction in exposure provided by hearing protection, above
which workers must not be exposed.
To help you calculate your workers’ exposure, Ultrawave publish the noise generated
by your ultrasonic cleaner on the Certificate of Test. The figure is that experienced by
a worker standing in the operating position.
The full test of the
Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005
[2]
and the full text of the
Noise at Work Regulations
1989
[2]
can be viewed online.
Guidance on the 2005 Regulations can be found in the free HSE leaflet ‘
Noise at Work’
(INDG362 (rev 1)
[4]
and in HSE’s priced book ‘Controlling Noise at Work’ (L108) (ISBN 0
7176 6164 4) available from
HSE Books
[5]
or from bookshops.
[1]
http://www.hse.gov.uk/noise/regulations.htm
[2]
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2005/20051643.htm
[3]
http://www.opsi.gov..uk/si/si1989/Uksi_19891790_en_1.htm
[4]
http://www.hse/gov/uk/pubns/indg362.pdf
[5]
http://www.hsebookds.co.uk
