How to tell if you need a noise assessment?
Now that is a good question, the Noise Regs require an employer to do a noise assessment if they think there is a noise risk, but how do you know you have a noise risk without doing a noise assessment…?
First things first, the Noise Regs require a noise assessment if there is reason to believe noise exposures are reaching 80 dB(A), so that is the lower of the two limits, not the higher 85 dB(A) one where things like hearing protection and hearing tests become mandatory.
This is the HSE’s advice from L108: Controlling Noise At Work:
L108: when a noise risk assessment is needed.
There are other sources of information though:
Has the manufacturer given any indication of the noise levels in their documentation, either in separate paperwork or via stickers on the machine?
A quick Google can often give you an idea of noise levels for common machinery or tools.
Both these are an indication only and you can’t take them as the actual noise levels for your specific site as that will also be impacted by things like the interaction of other tools and equipment in the room, how the tool is being used, what material it is being used with, etc., but this information can help identify if there may be an issue.
There are some other sources as well which can be a useful indication of a potential noise risk:
Phone apps or an Apple Watch can give an instantaneous reading, but you must treat them not so much as with a pinch of salt, but with a whole bucket-load. Phone apps especially are unreliable for any kind of accuracy, but they can be the noise equivalent of holding a wet finger up to see if it is windy.
The HSE’s comments of whether you can follow speech is a good one - if you have problems hearing people talk while the noise is going on then you probably need a noise assessment.
If people experience that buzzing or ringing in their ears after a job, or things sound muffled, then that is a very strong indication noise levels have been too high.
Otherwise, if in doubt, get a noise assessment. I would say that wouldn’t I? My reasoning is that if you are in doubt then should you get an inspection from the HSE then they will also be in doubt and cue a lovely letter along with an invoice for their time, so better to have done a noise assessment and shown there not to be a noise risk than not to have done it at all.
