Occupational Noise, Noise at Work & Industrial Hygiene

Throughout the world, millions of people are exposed to noise levels that result in noise induced hearing loss, an affect which can seriously reduce their quality of life.

Most countries have implemented hearing conservation programmes and these are generally regulated by international, regional and national standards and legislation. An example of this is the EU Physical Agents (Noise) Directive which has been enacted in the UK as the Control of Noise at Work Regulations.

These programs will involve the assessment and monitoring of noise exposures to ensure that employees are not subject to harmful levels and where such levels do exist and they cannot be reduced, that the employees are protected sufficiently to remove the risk of hearing damage.

In addition to this, all instruments are factory calibrated to ensure that the overall measurements are correct, and within the tolerances demanded by the standards.

Cirrus Research plc can provide a range of noise measurement equipment designed to aid in the compliance with Occupational and Industrial Noise Regulations, such as the UK Noise at Work Regulations, the EU Physical Agents (Noise) Directive 2003/10/EC, OHSA, MSHA, NIOSH and many others.

Personal Noise Dosemeters, such as the CR:110A doseBadge, are ideal for compliance with OSHA and other regulations where the measurement of the exposure of workers uses a 5dB exchange rate or where the Noise Dose is the important measurement parameter.

For applications where a Sound Level Meter is more appropriate, Cirrus has a wide range of instruments that can be used to measure and record noise levels as well as helping in the selection of suitable hearing protection.

If you're working to the 2005 Control of Noise at Work Regulations, have a look at our Workplace Noise Monitoring application page.

Recommended instruments

Listed below are some instrument that we would recommend for occupational noise measurements. If you have any questions or if you would like more details, please contact us and we will be pleased to help.

Noise at Work Directive 2003/10/EC

Noise at Work Directive 2003/10/EC is officially known as the "Directive 2003/10/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 February 2003 on the minimum health and safety requirements regarding the exposure of workers to the risks arising from physical agents (noise)".

In the directive, the following limit and action values are defined:

(a) exposure limit values: LEX,8h = 87 dB(A) and LCpeak = 200 Pa respectively;
(b) upper exposure action values: LEX,8h = 85 dB(A) and LCpeak = 140 Pa respectively;
(c) lower exposure action values: LEX,8h = 80 dB(A) and LCpeak = 112 Pa respectively.

Where:

The daily noise exposure level (LEX,8h) is the average noise exposure level for a nominal 8-hour working day as defined by ISO 1999

The peak sound pressure (LCpeak) is the maximum value of the 'C'-frequency weighted instantaneous noise pressure.

The Member States are to comply with this Directive before 15 February 2006. However, there may have an additional period of five years from 15 February 2006 with regard to limit values for personnel on board seagoing vessels. And, for the music and entertainment sectors.

Member States have a maximum transitional period of two years from 15 February 2006 (i.e. five years in total) to comply with this Directive, provided that, in the meantime, the levels of protection already achieved are maintained.

Click here for the full text of the EU Directive

OSHA Noise Standard

As of August 1981, OSHA noise exposure standards consist of a two-stage program where hearing conservation measures become mandatory at 85 dBA for an 8-hour day but feasible engineering or administrative noise controls are required when exposures exceed 90 dBA.

Hearing Conservation Programs - include annual audiometric testing and provision of hearing protectors.

Engineering Controls - include reducing machinery noise through redesign, replacement with quieter equipment or by reducing the transmission of noise along the path from source to receiver.

Administrative Controls - include reducing noise exposure by limiting the time an employee is exposed to given noise levels.

Click here to read the full text of the OSHA Noise Standard

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