Noise Levels –The Meter Needle Could Read Compensation!

Working in areas where there has been concern over noise levels, measuring the decibels could be just the evidence needed when claiming hearing damage compensation.

Although heavy manufacturing industries are in decline in the UK, its history has left, literally a deafening legacy of noise induced hearing loss.

For many who spent most of their working lives in industrial plants, construction or fabrication and factories, employers were themselves ‘not listening’ to the serious problems that deafness causes.

In a bid to combat industrial deafness, legislation for measuring noise levels to legal limits is now more frequently enforced accompanying requirements for ear protection, but this is by no means universally adhered to in some workplace environments.

The Noise Regulations require specific action to be taken at certain action values.

These concern :

• the levels of exposure to noise averaged out over a working day or week
• the maximum noise (peak sound pressure) exposure in a working day.

Lower daily or weekly exposure action values are 80 dB peak, sound pressure of 135 dB

Upper daily or weekly exposure action values are 85 dB peak, sound pressure of 137 dB

The levels of noise exposure which must not be exceeded, called exposure limit values are:

• daily or weekly exposure of 87 dB
• peak sound pressure of 140 dB

Noise loud enough to cause pain in the ears is about ten million times as intense as the quietest sound that can be heard. Roughly every increase of 3db on the scale means a doubling of sound intensity. Thus, what might seem like small differences in the numbers can be quite significant.

To give an idea of how the figures translate in real everyday listening terms, the following table should help :

• 140 db Jet engine
• 130 Rivet hammer
• 120 Pain threshold
• 110 Chain Saw
• 100 Sheet-metal workshop
• 85 Upper Exposure Limit
• 80 Heavy traffic
• 60 Normal conversation

Noise at work can cause hearing loss that can be temporary or permanent. Although hearing recovers within a few hours, this should not be ignored. Continued exposure to the noise could lead to permanent damage.

Hearing loss is usually gradual because of prolonged exposure to noise. The time to act is always when problems persist. Unfortunately, it may only be when damage caused by noise over the years combines with hearing loss due to ageing that real consideration may be given to seeking hearing loss advice with a view to claiming compensation.