Noise levels

Under the regulations, the first action level, known as lower “exposure action value” (EAV) is:

• a daily or weekly personal noise exposure of 80 dB(A), compared to the previous level of 85 dB(A); and an EAV for peak sound pressure of 135 dB;

The second, upper EAV is:

• a daily or weekly personal noise exposure of 85 dB(A), compared to the previous level of 90 dB(A); and an EAV for peak sound pressure of 137 dB.

The regulations also specify an “exposure limit value” (ELV) that must not be exceeded, of 87 dB(A) daily or weekly exposure and peak sound pressure of 140 dB. The HSE says the simple rules of thumb that may indicate a noise problem are:

• being surrounded by intrusive noise for most of the working day;

• having to raise your voice to be heard by someone just two metres away, for at least part of the day;

• using noisy powered tools or machinery for more than 30 minutes a day;

• working in a noisy industry such as construction, road repair, engineering or manufacturing;

• impacts caused by work such as hammering, drop forging and

• pneumatic impact tools; and

• work with explosive sources such as cartridge-operated tools, detonators or guns.