Overview

Regular exposure to excessive levels of noise can lead to permanent hearing loss. The NSW Work Health and Safety Regulation defines excessive noise as noise levels that:

  • exceed an 8-hour noise equivalent of 85 dB(A), or
  • peak at more than 140 dB(C)

Eighty-five dB is approximately as loud as heavy city traffic.

Noise can also be annoying or interfere with work. The impacts of noise depend both on the noise level and its characteristics and how it is perceived by the person affected.

Risk management 

Supervisors have a legal obligation to take steps to minimise staff and students risk of exposure to excessive levels of noise.

Step 1: Identify the hazard

Identify where noise exposure may be a problem.

Step 2: Assess risk

Determine if the noise level is above occupational exposure limits or whether the noise is offensive or likely to cause distress - this should involve consultation with affected persons.

Step 3: Controlling the risk

Adopt control measures to reduce the level of noise to as low as is practicable.

Provide appropriate hearing protection if noise level cannot be reduced below the exposure limit, further information on hearing protection is provided in the section on personal protective equipment.

Step 4: Monitoring controls

Regularly review the situation to make sure the exposure to noise remains adequately controlled.

Resources

Contact:

  • UTS: Building services if you think that there may be a problem with excessive noise levels in your area, to request that the noise levels be measured.
  • Safety & Wellbeing for further information or advice.

External resources

State government legislation

SafeWork NSW

SafeWork Australia