16
Compliance with the Control of Noise at Work regulations
The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 (the
[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 must 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 text of the
Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005
[2]
and the full
text of the
Noise at Work Regulations 1989
[3]
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
[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.hsebooks.co.uk
