Between 2009 and 2010, A Labour Force Survey estimated 21,000 people in the UK were suffering from hearing loss problems they thought were likely to be as a result of exposure to excessive noise levels at their workplace. The incidence of noise induced hearing loss caused by noisy working conditions is far from a resolved issue, even with greater employer and employee awareness of regulations stipulating the requirement of hearing protection.

The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 came into force on the 6th April 2006 as key legislation designed to prevent industrial deafness. Currently, there may be as many as 1.1 million people still at risk of hearing damage or the onset of tinnitus at their place of work.

A possible area of confusion over known acceptable noise level thresholds may stem from the 2006 regulation update which expanded upon the Noise at Work Regulations of 1989 and changed the dB frequency exposure level allowed.

The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 sets out the “action levels” demanded of an employer when thresholds of dB noise frequency are reached. The average thresholds for the 2005 regulations were lowered by 5dB for first and second level actions from original 1989 regulation levels:

2005 Regulations     Ave     / Peak       1989 Regulations
First action level:      80 dB / 135 dB    85 dB
Second action level:  85 dB / 137 dB    90 dB
Peak action level:      87 dB / 140 dB   200 Pascal

First action level is now set at 80 dB. At this expected noise level, employers must inform their workforce with clear information regarding the effects and risk of noise and how they can protect their hearing. In addition, employers must also provide and maintain hearing protection, i.e. ear defenders, ear plugs, for all employees who will be exposed and affected by the noise level.

Second action level is now set at 85 dB or a peak of 137 dB. When workplace noise levels exceed this threshold, the regulations state that employers must enforce the use of hearing protection. At specific locations designated hearing protection zones, the area must be clearly marked to indicate this level of noise, and employees must wear full ear protection.

Peak action level is set at 87dB or peak at 140dB. Average workplace noise levels must never exceed this dB threshold.

The 2005 Regulations state that employers have a clear responsibility to reduce the level of excessive noise within the workplace before bringing in hearing protection measures. Remedial actions include noise absorption panels to reduce sound reflection or machinery modification to eliminate unacceptable operating noise.