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Health and Safety ExecutiveAwdurdod Gweithredol lechyd a Diogelwch
Health and SafetyExecutive
Hearing loss
Noise control, hearing protection
and HSE Regulation
Paul Delderfield
HM Specialist Inspector
(Noise and Vibration)
What’s so bad about
hearing loss?
Impact
Impact
• Prejudice:
– Hearing loss only affects old people
– Hearing impaired people are stupid
• Quality of life:
– Increases the risks to mental health
– Impact on social functioning
• Safety issues:
– Audibility of communications and alarms
Noise Induced Hearing Loss –
Civil claims
Noise
• Noise is a potential risk whenever
exposures regularly reach or exceed the
upper exposure action value (UEAV) of
an LEP,d of 85 dB(A).
• If two people standing 2 metres apart
have to shout to talk to each other AND
• If people are exposed to that noise for
most of the day then their exposure is
likely to be at or above the UEAV.
Test
Probable
Noise
Level
A risk
assessment will
be need if noise
lasts for more
than:
Exposures
above UEAV if
noise lasts for
more than:
The noise is intrusive but
normal conversation is
possible.
80dB 6 hours 23 hours
You have to shout to talk
to someone 2 m away.85dB 2 hours 8 hours
You have to shout to talk
to someone 1 m away.90dB 45 minutes 2.5 hours
Is it Noisy?
Noise labelling – wood chipper
What does the Law require?
• Identify noise hazards
• Estimate likely exposure to
noise/vibration
• Eliminate, reduce, control and
protect
• Record what you will do
• L108 – HSE guidance to the
regulations
Risk Assessment
• Assessment (reliable estimate) of
exposure, allowing:
• Assessment of risk, leading to:
• Identification of necessary measures for
compliance, recorded as a:
• List of measures that need to be taken
(Action plan)
Do I have to Measure?
•No!
Regulation 5
• (2) In conducting the risk assessment the
employer shall assess the levels of noise to
which workers are exposed by means of –
– (a) Observation of specific working practices;
– (b) Reference to relevant information on the
probable levels of noise corresponding to
any equipment used in the particular working
conditions; and
• If necessary, measurement of the level of noise
to which his employees are likely to be exposed,
• Regulation 5(2) – The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005
Useful tools
Hierarchy of Control
• Eliminate - don’t do it
• Substitution – find a safer way to do it
• Engineering controls - Source safer tools
or equipment/adaptations
• Administrative Controls – Job rotation,
time limiting
• PPE
Eliminate
• Overall landscape and design
Eliminate
• Frequency of cuts
Eliminate
• Low maintenance planting
Substitution
• Remote Control – reduce noise and
vibration, also could be faster
Safer tools
• Investigate Battery tools
Administrative controls
• Job rotation
• Time limiting
• Only after implementing
all ‘higher level’ controls
Role of Hearing Protection (PPE)
• To be used as an interim measure while
technical and organisational noise
controls are being implemented.
• Where daily noise exposure has been
reduced to ‘As low as reasonably
practicable’ but is still over the UEAV (85
dB(A))
PPE is not a robust control
PPE is not a robust control
PPE is not a robust control
Incorrect storage Poor maintenance
Consistency of use Correctly selected
Consistency of use
Consistency of use
Hearing Protection Selection
• Protectors that reduce the level at the ear
to below 70dB should be avoided since
this over-protection may cause difficulties
with communications and hearing
warning signals. Users may become
isolated from their environment, leading to
safety risks, and generally may have a
tendency to remove hearing protection
and therefore risk damage to their
hearing.– HSE Control or Noise at Work Regulations Guidance L108
Hearing protection calculator
А-weighted noise level
(dB)
Select a protector with
an SNR of…..
85-90 20 or less
90-95 20-30
95-100 25-35
100-105 30 or more
Hearing protection
• If hearing protection is relied on, usage
must include:
– Selection of appropriate protection
– Training of users in hazards, correct
fitment and hygiene
– Supervision and monitoring of correct
use
– Storage facilities and maintenance
programme
– Replacement when required
PPE and Safety?
• Eg Protac III
Health Surveillance (Regulation 9)
• If you are using hearing protection you
probably need health surveillance
(annual audiometry)
• Specific duty on health surveillance for
hearing damage
• Risk-based regulation
• Health surveillance should be provided
where exposures frequently exceed
upper action values (Guidance)
Consider setting up your own Buy
Quiet Scheme
Consider setting up your own Buy
Quiet Scheme
• Know the noise level from your equipment.
• When purchasing or replacing tools compare
noise levels.
• Consider a noise specification when
purchasing.
• Consider asking for suppliers to prove
compliance with specs.
• Tell suppliers if you have issues.
• Tell your industry/HSE (Good or Bad)
DescriptionSound Pressure Level (LpA or LAeq
dB)
Chainsaw 105
Petrol driven grass mower 96
Wood Chippers 101-120
Cylinder mower - pedestrian 88
cylinder mower – stand on 87
Cylinder mower - ride on 90
Rotary mower 89
Rotary cultivator 90
Hoe cultivator 93
hand held blower/duster 89
hand held hedge cutter 93
Typical Noise levels
• HSE’s noise data – see our website
Summary
• Identify noise hazards and likely
exposures
•Control• If exposures still above UEAV (85dB(A))
then use hearing protection to control
residual risk and provide health
surveillance
