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It is well established that persons exposed to high levels of noise can suffer from permanent and irreversible hearing damage. The higher the noise level and the longer you are exposed to it, the higher the risk of suffering ill effects.
In workplaces, exposure to noise is covered by Part 5, Chapter 1 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations, 2007 – Control of Noise at Work Regulation 124 requires employers to assess the risk to workers from exposure to noise, and if necessary measure the levels of noise to which the employees are exposed. The Health and Safety Authority’s guide to these Regulations uses the rule of thumb that workers that have to shout to be clearly heard by someone two metres away, may be at risk. Where employee exposure exceeds the lower exposure action value (LEAV) or upper exposure action value (UEAV), specific duties are imposed on the employer. Employee exposure to noise cannot exceed the exposure limit value (ELV) Assessment Process A Nifast Consultant will visit your premises to measure the noise levels using a sound level meter. Measurements will be taken at selected locations, concentrating on operator positions to determine the actual exposure of the workers. Where the noise produced is highly variable, additional monitoring using personal noise dosimeters can also be arranged. Measurements will also be collected to allow the suitability of the supplied hearing protection to be determined. Report A detailed assessment report will be issued. The report will provide the results of the monitoring and observations made during the visit. The workers exposure will be compared to the action values and limit value given in the regulations. The report will include:
Do you need an Occupational Noise Assessment completed for your company?
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Noise Regulations