Noise at Work Regulations

The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 are the principal piece of UK occupational-health legislation governing noise at work. They apply to the exposure of workers to noise that arises out of, or in connection with, their work, and they place duties on employers to protect those workers from risks to health and safety caused by that exposure.

The Regulations set out exposure action values that trigger specific employer responsibilities and an exposure limit value that must not be exceeded. The duties scale with risk: routine information and training at lower exposures, structured noise control and hearing protection at higher exposures, and health surveillance where there is a risk to hearing.

Compliance is not achieved by simply issuing hearing protection. The Regulations require employers to control noise at source where reasonably practicable and to use personal protective equipment as a residual control, supported by training, zoning and review. Read our detailed Noise at Work Regulations explained guide for a structured walk-through of employer duties, or our Understanding Noise Action Values article for a closer look at the 80, 85 and 87 dB(A) thresholds, or our Workplace Noise Risk Assessment Guide for a practical step-by-step approach.

The Regulations do not require measurements in every case. Where reliable existing information — manufacturer data, comparable assessments at similar workplaces, recent competent surveys — gives a sound basis for decisions, that may be sufficient. Where it does not, workplace measurements are required.

Personal noise dosimetry is particularly useful where workers move between tasks or locations, or where exposure varies significantly during the shift. Area or task measurements may be sufficient for stable, repetitive work in fixed positions. A single spot reading is rarely a defensible basis for an exposure assessment, and measurements must represent normal work rather than convenient or unrepresentative conditions.

See workplace noise monitoring for the representative measurement programme, personal noise dosimetry for mobile or variable workers, and workplace noise surveys for the broader assessment exercise. A combined occupational hygiene-led approach is described under occupational hygiene noise services.

Where exposure is likely to reach the lower action value of 80 dB(A) LEX,8h (or peak 135 dB(C)), employers should make suitable hearing protection available on request and provide information, instruction and training so employees understand the noise risks at their workplace and how controls are intended to operate.

A suitable noise risk assessment should already be in place, and the employer should be considering what reasonably practicable steps are available to reduce exposure further. Reaching the lower action value is not in itself an absolute trigger for mandatory hearing protection, but it is a clear signal that noise is a significant workplace risk and should be managed actively.

The exposure limit value of 87 dB(A) LEX,8h (peak 140 dB(C)) represents an upper boundary that employees must not be exposed above. Unlike the action values, the limit value comparison may take into account the reduction in noise provided by any hearing protection actually worn.

That allowance is conditional on the protection being suitable for the exposure, in good condition, correctly fitted and correctly used throughout the exposure period. Theoretical attenuation figures from a manufacturer datasheet rarely represent real-world performance, so a margin should be applied and the actual protection achieved at the ear considered.

Reaching the limit value is not permission to leave external noise uncontrolled. Where exposure at the ear without protection would exceed the limit value, the underlying noise source needs to be addressed through suitable controls.

Hearing protection must be made available on request at or above the lower action value, and its use becomes mandatory at or above the upper action value. Selection should reflect the measured exposure spectrum, the tasks being performed, compatibility with other PPE, comfort and the need to communicate or hear warning signals.

Over-protection is a real risk: hearing protection that attenuates too far isolates workers from speech and warnings and is frequently removed in use. Correct fit, condition and consistent use matter more than nominal attenuation. Training, supervision, maintenance and replacement programmes should sit alongside selection.

Our dedicated hearing protection assessment service covers SNR, HML and octave-band selection, compatibility with other PPE and practical use in more detail.

Audiometric health surveillance should be provided for employees regularly exposed at or above the upper action value, and for any other workers considered to be at risk — for example because of a known sensitivity to noise or unusual exposure patterns. Health surveillance must be carried out by competent occupational health professionals with appropriate confidentiality and follow-up.

Audiometry is intended to detect early signs of hearing change so action can be taken before damage becomes significant. Individual results are confidential to the employee and the occupational health provider; anonymised group trends can be shared with the employer to review the effectiveness of noise controls.

Health surveillance is not a diagnostic service and does not replace clinical care. It is a screening and prevention tool that complements — never substitutes for — noise control at source.

Noise often rises over time as machinery wears. A maintenance regime that addresses worn bearings, loose panels, missing damping material, damaged guards and degraded silencers helps keep measured exposure in line with the original assessment. Acoustic enclosures and vibration isolation only work when they are intact and properly closed.

When purchasing equipment, noise emission should be a specified consideration alongside throughput, footprint and cost. Supplier sound-power data is useful for comparison but should not be taken as a literal prediction of in-service exposure: installation, ducting and the surrounding environment all influence the actual noise at the operator. After installation, in-service measurements confirm whether specification has been achieved.