Introduction
Prolonged and excessive exposure to noise results in long term harm to your hearing. This is irreversible, once you lose your hearing it is gone.
It accelerates the normal hearing loss we get as we grow older and can cause a permanent sensation of ringing in the ears, known as tinnitus. Less-obvious side effects such as increased pulse rate, blood pressure and breathing rate indicate that noise (and vibration) causes stress.
Noise is measured in decibels (dB). An increase of 3 dB doubles the noise, so what might seem a small difference in noise level may be a large difference in exposure. If the noise is so loud that you have to raise your voice to speak to someone 2 metres away, it may be loud enough to damage your hearing.
Removing and repairing body panels using pneumatic tools can be noisy work: air saws and chisels can typically produce levels as high as 107 dB(A) and grinders and orbital sanders 97 dB(A). Noise levels from panel beating and other repair operations using hand tools are variable but generally high.
Noise from work with sheet metal is often around 93 dB(A). Welding and flamecutting can also be noisy, and paint spraying has been measured at 93 dB(A). If workers were exposed to these noise levels through the day they would be well in excess of the specified Action Levels in the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005.
HSE's noise exposure calculator can be used to estimate if any worker's exposure is likely be at or above 80 dB(A) throughout the day. If it is, then an assessment needs to be carried out by a competent person. When exposure exceeds 85 dB(A), you will have to take increased action to eliminate and/or control exposure.
The 80 dB(A) and 85 dB(A) exposure action values are likely to be exceeded where bodywork is a regular daily activity and where pneumatic tools are used even for short periods. Using an air saw to remove panels for as little as six minutes can mean the user's total daily personal noise exposure will exceed 85 dB(A). Using an air sander for 45 minutes can give the user a daily personal noise exposure of more than 90 dB(A), as well as causing significant exposure to others nearby.
Exposure above 85 decibels
To reduce a worker's exposure above 85 dB to as low as reasonably practicable through organisational and technical measures, for example:
- selecting quiet tools, separate noisy work to reduce numbers exposed to noise
- provide hearing protection and ensure it is used (workers have a duty to wear the protection provided)
- demarcate hearing protection zones – ensure no one enters unless wearing hearing protection
- provide health surveillance (such as audiometric hearing checks)
Controlling workplace noise
- get suppliers of machinery and equipment to specify noise levels at operators' positions
- choose quieter machines and/or equipment, for example dampened grinding discs, silenced air compressors and enclosures, silenced air tools etc
- isolate bodywork repairs in a mobile PVC strip curtain enclosure and/or in separate rooms
- use industry good practice to reduce workplace noise, for example using magnetic n mats, sandbags, bracing bodywork when body prepping
Selection and use of hearing protection
Employers should provide hearing protection that at least reduces noise exposure to below 85 dB(A), but reducing the level of noise to below 70 dB(A) at the ear should be avoided. Check this using the manufacturer's performance data and HSE's hearing protection calculator (.xlsm).
In particular, employers should:
- provide workers with hearing protectors, if they ask for them and their noise exposure is between the lower (80dBA) and upper (85dBA) exposure action values
- provide workers with hearing protectors and make sure they use them properly when their noise exposure exceeds the upper (85dBA)exposure action values
- identify hearing protection zones, such as areas where the use of hearing protection is compulsory, and mark them with signs if possible
- provide employees with training and information on how to use and care for the hearing protectors
- ensure that the hearing protectors are properly used and maintained
Working out noise exposure and estimating performance of hearing protection
The noise exposure calculators can help you work out your daily noise exposure, weekly noise exposures, and estimate the performance of hearing protection.