Noise Management

Purpose and Scope

The purpose of this procedure is to manage noise and to prevent hearing damage to people at work due to exposure to hazardous noise.  This procedure applies to all HY projects.

HANSENYUNCKEN

Noise Management

HYER STANDARDS

Responsibilities

Senior Project Management Team

  • Ensure that noise levels are measured, when required to determine whether exposure standards are being exceeded
  • Ensure that controls are implemented where noise levels exceed exposure standards

HANSENYUNCKEN

Noise Management

HYER STANDARDS

Hazard Identification Risk Assessment and Control (HIRAC)

Risks associated with noise must be included in the project risk register.  This includes risks associated with:

  • Hazardous noise that can cause hearing loss and disabling tinnitus
  • Noise levels that impact communication and hearing warning sounds

Noise Levels

The noise that a worker is exposed to at the workplace must not exceed the exposure standard for noise.  A worker must not be exposed to:

  • Noise greater than 85dB(A) averaged over eight (8) hours
  • Peak noises greater than 140 dB(C)

The decibel scale is logarithmic.  On this scale, an increase of 3 dB represents a doubling of sound energy.  This means that every 3 dB increase in noise level can cause the same damage in half the time.  The following are examples of the length of time that a person without hearing protection can be exposed before the standard (85dB(A)) is exceeded.

NOISE LEVEL DB(A)

EXPOSURE TIME BEFORE STANDARD IS EXCEEDED

80

16 hours

82

12 hours

85

8 hours

88

4 hours

91

2 hours

94

1 hour

97

30 minutes

100

15 minutes

103

7.5 minutes

106

3.8 minutes

109

1.9 minutes

112

57 seconds

115

28.8 seconds

118

14.4 seconds

121

7.2 seconds

124

3.6 seconds

127

1.8 seconds

130

0.9 seconds

Noise measurement and Monitoring

In some cases an assessment may be required to determine whether exposure to noise is likely to exceed the exposure standard.  Where the need for a noise assessment has been identified, it must be conducted by a competent person and in accordance with AS/NZS 1269.1:2005 Occupational noise management – Measurement and assessment of noise immission and exposure.  Refer to the Health Surveillance and Exposure Monitoring procedure.

Controls

When designing or planning work, noise levels should be considered and reduced where possible. This can be done by considering the source of noise and eliminating or substituting the source where possible.

Where noise generation is not able to be reduced to levels below the above limits action must be taken to reduce the exposure of workers to the noise using one or more of the following methods:

Engineering Controls:

  • Install barriers between noise sources and workers/people to block or reduce noise transmission.
  • Fit plant and equipment with effective and operational noise suppression devices.
  • Regularly maintaining and servicing all plant and equipment to the manufacturer’s specifications to ensure noise generation is minimised.

Administrative Controls:

  • Conduct noisy activities outside of normal work hours where possible, ensuring this does not create unacceptable disturbances for others.
  • Program noisy activities, such as concrete breaking and jackhammering, in consultation with HY to minimise impact.
  • Re-sequence and organise works to minimise concurrent noise generation from multiple activities in one area.
  • Restrict the amount of time workers spend near noise sources.
  • Use longer leads, hoses, and extension cords to increase the distance between noisy equipment and workers.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):

  • Provide and ensure the use of appropriate PPE such as earmuffs or earplugs when other controls cannot reduce noise to acceptable levels.

Hearing Protection

Hearing protection (e.g. earmuffs or earplugs) should be used in the following circumstances:

  • When the risks arising from exposure to noise cannot be eliminated or minimised by other more effective control measures
  • As an interim measure until other control measures are implemented
  • Where extra protection is needed above what has been achieved using other noise control measures

Personal hearing protectors must be selected and maintained in accordance with AS/NZS 1269.3:2005 Occupational noise management – Hearing protector program.

Barricading and Signage

Areas where people may be exposed to hazardous noise must be sign-posted as hearing protection areas and the boundaries of these areas must be clearly defined.    People must not enter these areas without wearing appropriate personal hearing protection, regardless of how short the time they stay in the area.  Where sign-posting is not practicable, other arrangements must be made to ensure that workers and others know when personal hearing protection is required.

Audiometric Testing

Audiometric testing must be provided for employees who carry out tasks that requires them to frequently use personal hearing protection as a control measure for noise that exceeds the exposure standard.  It must be provided:

  • Within three months of the employee commencing work where hearing protectors is required
  • Regularly (i.e. follow-up tests) at least every two years

Audiometric testing for HY employees must be conducted as per the Health Surveillance and Exposure Monitoring procedure.

Definitions

Exposure Standard for Noise – The exposure standard for noise is defined in the WHS Regulations as an LAeq,8h of 85 dB(A) or an LC,peak of 140 dB(C).  There are two parts to the exposure standard for noise because noise can either cause gradual hearing loss over a period of time or be so loud that it causes immediate hearing loss.

Hazardous Noise – In relation to hearing loss means noise that exceeds the exposure standard for noise in the workplace

References

  • Work Health & Safety Regulation 2011 (QLD), 2012 (SA/TAS) and 2017 (NSW) – Part 4.1 Noise
  • Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017 (Victoria) – Part 3.2 Noise
  • Model Code of Practice for Managing noise and preventing hearing loss at work 

Associated Documents