Employer Responsibilities

The first step for employers is to make a preliminary assessment to identify sources of hazardous noise.

Hazard identification can be performed by walking through the workplace at different times during the day, looking and listening for noisy activities and equipment. An assessment will help determine:

What work activities are noisy
Sources of excessive noise which make it difficult to hear a normal voice when trying to hold a conversation
Workers likely to be exposed to noise
Ways of reducing noise levels

This should be done in consultation with workers and WHS Representatives familiar with equipment and work processes.

You can download a sound meter app onto your mobile device to help measure the sound volume.

Here is a Noise Hazards Guide that will help identify common noise sources and their typical sound levels.

If a potential noise hazard has been identified, the next step is for the employer to conduct a risk assessment.

There is evidence that workers who are exposed to vibration and noise at the same time are more likely to suffer hearing loss than workers exposed to the same level of noise alone. Exposure to both vibration and noise is also understood to increase musculoskeletal problems.

Safe Work Australia has developed a series of guidance material on:

managing the risks associated with vibrating plant in the workplace, and
the measurement and assessment of workplace vibration exposures from vibrating plant.

Technical information is also provided on how exposures are to be measured and calculated.

You should use these guides if you are a worker or if you manage a worker who is exposed to or is likely to be exposed to vibration.

The guides for measuring and assessing vibration are targeted at people who, through training, qualification or experience, have acquired the knowledge and skills to carry out the task, for example occupational hygienists, ergonomists and other work health and safety professionals.

The quantitative noise assessment is conducted by a competent person (in accordance with AS/NZS 1269.1:2005 Occupational noise management - Measurement and assessment of noise emission and exposure.

Personal noise exposure monitoring is preferred over area monitoring.

Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss at Work Code of Practice can be used to determine whether the noise dosage for any part or whole of a working day exceeds limits – refer to Tables 9, 10 and 11, in this document.

Alternatively, the UK HSE has a noise ready-reckoner: https://www.hse.gov.uk/noise/calculator.htm

These tools would help to determine whether you are complying with 85 dB(A) (aggregated over 8 hours) particularly if noise exposures are variable and not over an entire 8-hour shift. An increase in noise by 3 dB(A) represents a doubling in sound level.

A workplace noise assessment will determine what level of hearing PPE your workers must use to protect them from any leftover noise risk.

If your workplace has been identified as noise or vibration at a level that would be hazardous to its workers, then a number of control measures should be implemented to protect the health and safety of its workers and reduce the occurrence of noise induce hearing loss.

Following the assessment of noise levels, businesses should apply risk control measures.

Noise levels should be kept below the exposure standard of 85 decibels (dB)(A) in an 8-hour day so that critical situations can still be communicated despite the noise.

This involves applying the hierarchy of controls, seeking firstly to eliminate sources of noise where possible and then implement ways of reducing noise exposure with:

Engineering solutions
Administrative controls
Ensuring the use of PPE (hearing protection)

Let’s look at these more closely:

Engineering solutions
Action could include:
- substitute noisy machinery with quieter models, or ‘buy quiet’ when purchasing new or replacement equipment, which is a cost-effective way to control noise at the source
- introduce engineering controls to treat noise at its source or in its transmission path, such as using sound dampeners, silencers, noise barriers/partitions/screens and isolation
- regularly maintain plant and equipment
- install sound insulation.
- using vibration stabilising pads
- provide quiet rooms for rest breaks that are fully enclosed with well-sealed doors and windows to reduce background noise levels as far as possible
Administrative controls
Administrative actions should provide a systematic framework that support the higher level WHS controls used.
Action could include:
- Training and education
- Job rotation, job redesign or designing rosters, to reduce the number of workers exposed to noise.
- Audio metric testing*: if workers are frequently required to wear PPE to reduce the risk of hearing loss, implement an audiometric testing regime and keep testing records.
- Ensure areas where people may be exposed to hazardous noise are sign-posted as hearing protector areas
- Schedule activities involving hazardous noise to be done outside of normal hours or on shifts with fewer workers present, where possible
- Record management: hearing test reports, including any updated baseline hearing tests. Employees should get a copy of their hearing test reports when their employment ends.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
The primary criterion when selecting a hearing protector is that the level of noise entering the worker’s ears (the in-ear noise level) must be reduced (attenuated) to below the criteria in the exposure standard for noise (Clause 56 of the Workplace Health and Safety Regulation 2017), which are:
- a total noise of 85dB(A) averaged over an 8-hour period, or
- a peak noise level that exceeds 140dB(C)
The recommended target in ear exposure level for workers is 80dB(A).
Action could include providing PPE that is:
- suitable for the nature of work and hazard, such as earmuffs and earplugs
- comfortable to wear, and of a suitable size and fit
- maintained, repaired or replaced when required
- used or worn by workers who have been trained in its use and care.
Ensure all workers are trained and instructed in fitting and wearing the hearing PPE
Involve your workers in the hearing PPE selection process and offer a reasonable choice from a range of types. Where necessary, obtain professional advice when selecting.
Do not provide hearing PPE that under-protects or over-protects a worker’s hearing
It is important that all hearing PPE has the appropriate protection rating.
There are dangers of workers being under-protected, however providing hearing PPE that over-protects a worker (ie: the hearing PPE is rated higher than the protection level determined by the workplace noise assessment) cuts out too much sound and may cause workers to experience disadvantages, such as:
- difficulty in communication, in hearing verbal instructions – even warning signals
- feelings of isolation, and
- discomfort, eg: heavy-duty earmuffs are heavier to wear and have a higher clamping force on the head

Workers must always wear hearing PPE whenever they are exposed to hazardous noise that exceeds the exposure standard.

* Health Monitoring - Audiometric testing

Audiometric testing is mandatory for workers who are frequently exposed to hazardous noise that requires the use of personal hearing protection.

It can assist in identifying if a worker's hearing is deteriorating.

The frequency of audiometric testing set out in the regulations is:

within three months of commencing work (often called 'baseline' or 'reference' audiometry), and
at least every two years from then on (known as 'monitoring')

To find out more information download the Hearing Protection PPE Fact Sheet and Audiometric Testing Fact Sheet

All control measures must be maintained and regularly reviewed so that it remains effective, fit for purpose, suitable for the nature and duration of the work, and is installed, set up and used correctly.

You must also review and revise the control measure implemented as necessary including before a change occurs at the workplace that is likely to create a new or different risk, a new hazard or risk has been identified or when requested by a health and safety representative.