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Worksites tend to be filled with constant noise from tools and machinery. Work-related hearing loss is a real threat for many who spend the majority of their working lives on-site. While noise often means things are getting done, there is a downside to it. Hazardous noise can affect a worker’s physical and mental wellbeing including hearing loss, stress, and lower productivity. So to help you protect your hearing, here are a few helpful tips to manage noise. 

Legislation 

The aim of the Noise Regulations is to ensure that workers’ hearing is protected from excessive noise at their place of work, which could cause them to lose their hearing and/or to suffer from tinnitus (permanent ringing in the ears).

Employers must assess the risk to workers when noise is above is 80dB(A) and employers MUST ensure hearing protection is worn when noise is 85 dB(A).

Understand noise and its path

Understanding what makes noise on-site, and how it impacts people and different areas on site is critical. Ask yourself and your workers: 

• Where’s all the noise coming from? Is it right next to workers or further away?
• Which tools or machines are the loudest? Are hand-held tools the worst, or is it the bigger site vehicles?
• How does noise move around the site? Does it bounce off walls, echo, or create vibrations?

Once you understand the answers to the above, you can start putting plans and checks in place to monitor noise on-site. 

Be sure to review the plan throughout the project, as different stages will create varying levels of noise. 

Eliminate or reduce

The most effective way to reduce noise is to eliminate its source, though this isn’t always possible. 

Regular maintenance of equipment is another effective method to minimise noise production. Proper upkeep can significantly lower noise levels.

The HSE has also suggested alternative methods to decrease noise on-site, including:

• Using block splitters instead of cut-off saws.
• replace whatever is causing the noise with something that is less noisy

Additionally, limiting the time spent in noisy areas will significantly reduce exposure.

Isolation

Isolation involves creating a dedicated space for ‘noisy work’. This could be an enclosed room or area of site where all noisy work and machinery is used. This helps manage the noise by blocking the path of noise and reducing the levels that reach your team.

Engineering

Having a good understanding of how machinery and tools operate can help modify processes to reduce noise at the source. Engineering controls can include choosing attachments or parts that are noise reducing, or changing the way machinery and tools are used.

Acoustic enclosures

Perfect for when you are running a large generator or a dedicated workspace, acoustic enclosures help to trap the noise within its barriers. Setting up an acoustic enclosure that has 2 or 3 barriers/ walls can reduce noise.

What makes a quality acoustic enclosure: 

• Sealed windows and doors – make sure everything is closed or the noise escapes 
• Double or triple glazed windows and walls 
• Materials that are compact, dense and heavy

Vibrations

With noise comes vibrations. These vibrations can be just as harmful as the noise itself.  Here are a few strategies to help decrease vibrations when using machines or power tools: 

• Heavy surfaces vibrate less and radiate less noise. So if you can, perform all work with power tools on heavy surfaces, such as concrete.
• If you can, work on benches/ surfaces that aren’t solid – holes allow noise to escape and not bounce off the surface.
• Place machinery or generators in an area of site where they are not trapped by walls unless they are made of noise-cancelling/ absorbing materials.

It’s not possible to escape noise on-site, however we can manage noise and put steps in place to help reduce the effect that it has on us while we’re working.

If you have any questions don’t forget to reach out to the team!