The Control of Noise at Work Regulations replace The Noise at Work Regulations 1989 and came into force on 6 April 2006. They cover all places of work.

The new legislation reduces the levels at which you must take action to control the risk of noise affecting your employees. The reduced action levels aim to protect employees against noise-induced hearing loss.

Because the action levels have been decreased many more premises will have to comply with the requirements of controlling noise at work. If your employees are exposed to noise whilst at work you may have to implement measures to control this exposure if the level of noise is deemed to exceed the action levels stated in the regulations.

The table below compares the old and new legislation and provides an overview of the action which should be taken if those levels are exceeded.

Current Legislation New Legislation
Exposure Action Levels Noise at Work Regulations 1989 Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 Action
Lower Exposure Action Level 85 dB(A) 80 dB(A) Risk assessment
Implement a maintenance
programme.
Provide training.
Make ear protection available.
Upper Exposure Action Level 90dB(A) 85 dB(A) Reduce noise at source.
Implement ear protection zones.
Ear protection must be used.
Provide health surveillance.

You must conduct a risk assessment to establish if your employees are being exposed to harmful levels of noise in the workplace.