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The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 (the Noise Regulations) came into force for all industry sectors in Great Britain on !"ril 200 (e#ce"t for the music and entertainment sectors $here they came into force on !"ril 200%)& The aim of the Noise Regulations is to ensure that $orkers' hearing is "rotected from e#cessi(e noise at their "lace of $ork) $hich could cause them to lose their hearing and*or to suffer from tinnitus ("ermanent ringing in the ears)& The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 re"lace the Noise at Work Regulations +,%,& ! co"y of the Noise at Work Regulations 2005 can -e found at the follo$ing $e- address. htt".**$$$&o"si&go(&uk*si*si2005*2005+ /0&htm or -y (isiting the 1ealth and 2afety 3#ecuti(e $e-site at the follo$ing $e- address. htt".**$$$&hse&go(&uk*noise*inde#&htm Guidance on the 2005 Regulations can -e found in the free 123 leaflet. Noise at Work (4N5G0 2 re(+) and the 1236s 7Controlling Noise at Work6 (8+0%) (42BN 0 9+9 + / /)) $hich is a(aila-le from 123 -ooks at the follo$ing $e-site address. htt".**$$$&hse-ooks&co&uk*Books*5efault&as":cookie;5<test=+ the document is also a(aila-le from most -ooksho"s) "rice >+0&,5&
Weekly "ersonal noise e#"osure (LEP,w). The a(erage of a $orking $eeks daily noise e#"osures& <or com"arison) referenced to a fi#ed num-er of fi(e days&
The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 ction ! "imit #alues are as follows$ The lo$er e#"osure action (alues are. (a) a daily or $eekly "ersonal noise e#"osure of %0 dB (!?$eighted)D and (-) a "eak sound "ressure of +05 dB (C?$eighted) The u""er e#"osure action (alues are. (a) a daily or $eekly "ersonal noise e#"osure of %5 dB (!?$eighted)D and (-) a "eak sound "ressure of +09 dB (C?$eighted) The e#"osure limit (alues are. (a) a daily or $eekly "ersonal noise e#"osure of %9 dB (!?$eighted)D and (-) a "eak sound "ressure of +/0 dB (C?$eighted)& Note. the e#"osure limit (alues must ne(er -e e#ceeded) no matter ho$ -riefly& Where the LEP,d e#ceeds %0dB(!)) or a "eak sound "ressure of +05dB(C)) the first action le(el) the range of duties is e#tended&
Regulation 5 This reAuires a formal risk assessment to -e undertaken -y a 7com"etent "erson6) in order to assess the noise le(els $here em"loyees are 7likely6 to -e e#"osed to the lo$er or u""er action le(els& The risk assessment should. 4dentify those em"loyees $ho are e#"osed to noise at $ork) andD Ero(ide the em"loyee $ith the necessary information to ena-le the em"loyerD to carry out his*her statutory dutiesD Re(ie$ the assessment $hen it -ecomes out of date or -ecomes in(alidD Fee" a record of the assessment&
Regulation % This reAuires the em"loyer to reduce) so far as is 7reasona-ly "ractica-le6) em"loyees e#"osure to noise (-y means other than -y the use of "ersonal "rotecti(e eAui"ment (EE3)) $here em"loyees are lia-le to -e e#"osed to the second or "eak action le(els:: Regulation & 5uty to "ro(ide em"loyees $ith suita-le and sufficient EE3 (ear "rotection) $here em"loyees are e#"osed to noise le(els at or a-o(e the first action le(el) %0dB(!)) -ut -elo$ second or u""er action le(el of %5dB(!)& Note. that this duty only a""lies u"on the reAuest of the em"loyees& 1o$e(er) $here the noise le(els are at or a-o(e the second or u""er action le(el %5dB(!)) an 3ar Erotection Gone (3EG) must -e declared) and. The 3EG must -e clearly indicated) andD 3m"loyees must not -e allo$ed to enter the Hone unless they are $earing suita-le and sufficient ear "rotection (EE3)&
Regulation '
Iaintenance and use of EE3) all eAui"ment must -e fully maintained& 3m"loyees must only use eAui"ment "ro(ided -y the em"loyer and re"ort any defects) as and $hen necessary) to their em"loyer&
Regulation ( 5uty to undertake health sur(eillance for noise induced hearing damage $here em"loyees are freAuently e#"osed to noise at u""er e#"osure action (alues& !lso reAuired $here em"loyee has "re?e#isting hearing loss or is susce"ti-le to noise e#"osure (a""lies $here e#"osed to noise a-o(e lo$er or first action le(el)& Regulation )0 Ero(ision of information) instruction and training) $hich includes information a-out the noise le(els to $hich em"loyees are e#"osed and $hat this means in terms of damage to their hearing) andD What the em"loyer is going to do to control the risksD 1o$ and $here hearing "rotection can -e o-tainedD 1o$ to $ear hearing "rotection correctly and understand the im"ortance of its "ro"er useD <ollo$ any defined safe systems of $orkD Ero(ide information a-out entitlement to health sur(eillance& ssessing noise le*els in the work+lace
4n order to meet the reAuirements of the regulations) em"loyers $ill need to make an initial assessment of the noise le(els in the "remises& Elease noteD accurate noise measurements are not reAuired at this stage& 4f you esta-lish that you do ha(e a noise "ro-lem) you $ill need to assess the risks to decide $hether any further action is needed) and "lan ho$ you $ill do it& The aim of the risk assessment is to hel" you decide $hat you need to do to ensure the health and safety of your em"loyees $ho are e#"osed to noise& 4t is more than Cust taking measurements of noise ? sometimes measurements may not e(en -e necessary
!re there noises due to im"acts (such as hammering) dro" forging) "neumatic im"act tools etc)) e#"losi(e sources such as cartridge o"erated tools or detonators) or guns:
Noise at work in the music and entertainment sectors <rom the th !"ril 200%) the Noise at Work Regulations 2005 -ecame a""lica-le to the music and entertainment sectors& This includes Eu-s) Clu-s and Nightclu-s*5iscos $here either li(e or recorded music is "layed& 4f you ha(e identified that you ha(e a "ro-lem $ith noise at $ork) and you ha(e carried out a risk assessment as outlined a-o(e) it may -e that you can take sim"le measures $ithout s"oiling the enCoyment of your customers) remem-er) the regulations are a-out "rotecting your $orkers and are not intended to ruin or s"oil the music e#"erience of your customers&
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