Elimination of noise is the very best method to prevent risks to workers and must be contemplated when new equipment is purchased or secured for offices. Low sound equipment should be selected as soon as possible. A job manager or the equivalent person is accountable for demonstrating that equipment noise levels have been considered as a member of the decision process. Site management should monitor activities and determine when noise assessments are demanded. As a rule of thumb in case 2 people stood 2m apart have to increase their voices to be heard a possible sound problem exists and an assessment needs to be made (all machines emitting 85dB (A) needs to be thought of as a sound risk).

Occupational sound tests should be performed by a competent person with a calibrated noise meter and should include an octave band analysis. An outcome sheet needs to be utilized for this purpose. Where a sound problem is identified all reasonable steps should be used to reduce the noise at source and ought to consider both workplace and equipment design and maintenance.

Engineering controls to add this might include isolation of this origin (enclosure( vibration damping), reduction at source or at path (enclosure, barriers, mufflers), replacement or alteration of machinery (electric instead of pneumatic) and carrying out effective preventative maintenance (restriction workplace zones and so on ).

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as ear plugs and ear muffs should be applied as a last resource, once all efforts to eliminate or decrease the origin of the noise have been drained. Ear protection should be selected from the approved PPE list and should be appropriate for that type and term of the noise, be harmonious with additional PPE and correctly maintained and preserved.


Personnel should be given either suitable hearing protection so they are able to decide on the most comfortable answer. Training ought to be given in its use, maintenance and storage. At the Lower Exposure Action Value of 80dB proper ear protection should be made available. All individuals must be conscious of the noise risk. At the Upper Exposure Action Value 85 dB suitable ear protection should be offered and needs to be worn in the Occupational Safety Zones. Ear protection zones must be clearly marked with all the typical blue and white ear protection logo signs.

Electric Pump Enclosures should receive information and training to help them understand and deal with the noise related risks.

Documentation relating to the noise hazards should be kept at a work site. In bigger companies, upon completion of the project all info ought to be archived at the firm's head office including noise risk evaluations, induction and briefing records, PPE difficulty records, health surveillance records and noise monitoring/measurements.