Noise

What you need to do

The law says you must manage the exposure of your workforce to risk from noise on construction projects. This involves:

• Assessing the noise risk to workers from plant, machinery and tools;
• Eliminating and reducing noise at source by modifying working methods, choice of equipment, and by technical means; and
• Hearing protection to deal with any risk from noise after you have taken steps to eliminate and reduce risk by other means.

• Hearing loss
• Who is at risk
• Managing the risks

What you need to know

Regular, frequent exposure to high noise levels causes deafness or tinnitus (permanent ringing in the ears).

The longer the exposure and the higher the noise level, the greater the degree of hearing loss.

Hearing loss

The hearing loss caused can be temporary or permanent.

• Temporary deafness can occur after leaving a noisy place. Hearing usually recovers within a couple of hours. This is a sign that continued exposure to loud noise could permanently damage your hearing;
• Sudden extremely loud noise can cause instant damage; and
• Repeated exposure causes gradual hearing loss due to repeated exposure. This is more common and it can take years for a worker to realise just how deaf they have become.

Who is at risk?

General construction site noise usually comes from machinery used for demolition, excavation or piling work and from compressors and concrete mixers etc.

Workers who are most at risk are those who use tools such as concrete breakers, pokers and compactors, sanders, grinders and disc cutters, hammer drills, chipping hammers, chainsaws, cartridge-operated tools, scabblers or needle guns.

Heavy plant operators and those who control machines on site, and anyone in close proximity to them, are also at risk

Remember: Noise exposure may not just be from the equipment that you operate – it might be produced by the fixed plant or the activities of another contractor.

Managing the risks

The HSE five-stage plan for managing construction health risks can help you manage risk from noise:

• Stage 1: Arrangements
• Stage 2: Assess health risks
• Stage 3: Eliminate risk
• Stage 4: Control risk
• Stage 5: Manage remaining risk

Top tips for managing noise risks on smaller projects

• Noise from equipment is probably loud enough to damage hearing if a person has to shout to talk to someone 2m away. Get levels assessed by someone with the skill and experience to measure noise and identify what needs to be done.
• Manufacturers and suppliers of equipment provide information on the noise their equipment produces. Use this information to choose low-noise tools and equipment, e.g. breakers and drills.
• Do jobs in another way that does not involve using noisy equipment or uses a quieter item of equipment. When buying or hiring equipment, choose the quietest model.
• Do noisy jobs well away from where other people are working. Move workers who are not involved out of the noisy area. Erect signs to keep people out of the noisy area.
• Poor maintenance of tools leads to increased noise levels. Maintain your equipment and any noise reduction devices, e.g. silencers.
• Tell workers where there is a risk to their hearing, what is being done about it and what they are expected to do to minimise the risk;
• Provide workers with ear defenders, but remember – hearing protection is not a substitute for eliminating and reducing noise elimination at source.
• Carefully select ear defenders and keep them in good condition. Train wearers in their use to ensure that they fit well and are kept in good condition.
• Make sure that where defenders are needed they are actually used. Check that the hearing protection does not interfere with other safety equipment.