Noise Complaints
Workplace noise: exposure limits and hearing protection
For employers, safety officers and HR: employee noise-exposure criteria, legal duties, correct measurement methods, hearing conservation programmes (HCP), and engineering/administrative/PPE controls.
What the law expects from employers
- Assess noise risk for every position with potential exposure
- Measure and record with accepted instruments/methods (Class 1, dosimeter/SLM, Leq/LEX,8h/Peak)
- Apply controls in hierarchy order: engineering → administrative → PPE
- Train and audiometrically test at-risk staff under a hearing conservation programme
- Review effectiveness after improvements and monitor compliance regularly
A workplace noise-measurement programme
- Map jobs/areas: main sources, sound paths, actual operating hours
- Configure SLM/dosimeters (Class 1): A/C weighting, Fast/Slow, Peak per the standards
- Stations and periods covering production cycles, night shifts and peak activities
- Calculate LEX,8h (TWA), Lmax, Peak and compare against criteria
- Submission-ready report: method, instruments, calibration, results, maps, remediation proposals
The hierarchy of controls
- Engineering: enclosures/acoustic walls, silencers, process changes, source reduction, isolation/damping
- Administrative: job rotation, reduced time in noise zones, zoning, scheduled machine hours
- PPE: plugs/muffs with appropriate SNR/NRR, fit testing and training
- Lead with engineering; supplement with administrative measures and PPE for sustainability
Documentation and governance
- Noise measurement/risk-assessment records, annual or after major changes
- SOPs/work instructions for noisy tasks
- Training plans and records, plus audiometry results for at-risk staff
- KPI tracking and post-improvement reviews
How Geonoise can help
- ✓Plant-wide noise measurement and risk assessment with submission-ready reports
- ✓Engineering/administrative measures and PPE selection matched to the real work
- ✓HCP setup, training plans, and audit-ready forms/records
- ✓Post-improvement reviews and KPI follow-up
Frequently asked questions
How often should we measure?
At least annually, or whenever machinery, layout or working hours change in ways that affect noise.
Do we need dosimeters?
For mobile jobs or varied workstations, dosimeters better reflect actual personal exposure.
How do we choose the right PPE?
Base it on the noise spectrum and required reduction, choose an appropriate SNR/NRR, and do fit testing plus training.
What if we exceed limits but can't fix it immediately?
Apply interim measures (administrative/PPE) with a permanent engineering plan and a follow-up timeline.