Some sounds, like a distant train whistle, can be a pleasant sound for some, while being considered noise by others. You can feel how much more energy goes into yelling. The more energy put into making a sound, the louder it will be. Some examples of typical noise levels are shown in the graphic.Sound is energy transferred through the air that our ears detect as small changes in air pressure. Noise can also be a safety hazard at work, interfering withД¬ommunication and making warnings harder to hear. Tools etc), explosive sources such as cartridge operated Hammering, drop forging, pneumatic impact

Are there noises due to impacts (such as.

Processing engineering textile manufacture generalДЇabrication forging, pressing or stamping paper orД«oard making canning or bottling foundries?

Do you work in a noisy industry, eg construction,Дemolition or road repair woodworking plastics.

Do your employees use noisy powered tools or machinery for more than half an hour each day?.

Do your employees have to raise their voices to carry out a normal conversation when about 2 m apart for at least part of the day?.

Is the noise intrusive - like a busy street, a vacuum cleaner or a crowded restaurant - for most of the working day?.

As a simple guide you will probably need to do something about the noise if any of the following apply: This will depend on how loud the noise is and how

Remember: Young people can be damaged as easily as the old. People may develop tinnitus (ringing, whistling, buzzing or humming in the ears), a distressing condition which can lead to disturbed sleep. Eventually everything becomes muffled and people find it difficult to catch sounds like 't', 'd' and 's', so they confuse similar words. This may mean their family complains about the television being too loud, they cannot keep up with conversations in a group, or they have trouble using the telephone. It may only be when damage caused by noise over the years combines with hearing loss due to ageing that people realise how deaf they have become. Permanent hearing damage can be caused immediately by sudden, extremely loud, explosive noises, eg from guns or cartridge-operated machines.Д«ut hearing loss is usually gradual because of prolonged exposure to noise. It is a sign that if you continue to be exposed to the noise your hearing could be permanently damaged.

Although hearing recovers within a few hours, this should not be ignored. People often experience temporary deafness after leaving a noisy place. Noise at work can cause hearing loss that can be temporary or permanent. Review what you are doing if anything changes that may affect the noise exposures where you work. you provide information, training and health surveillance.hearing protection is provided and used.

Where the risks are low, the actions you take may be simple and inexpensive, but where the risks are high, you should manage them using a prioritised noise-control action plan. The lawД«y law, as an employer, you must assess and identify measures to eliminate or reduce risks from exposure to noise so that you can protect the hearing of your employees. If your workers use hand-held tools these may also transmit vibration into their hands and arms.

a trade union safety representative or an employee representative.

an employee, or self-employed person, who uses noisy equipment.

You may also find these pages helpful if you are:

noise from impacts such as hammering, drop forging, pneumatic impact tools etc.

explosive sources such as cartridge operated tools or detonators, or guns.

These pages will be of particular interest to you if you are an employer whose business involves using:

how you can protect your employees from noise.

what you may need to do as an employer under the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005.

The information on these web pages will help you understand:

Choose quieter equipment and machinery?.

Use the information from my risk assessment?.

Overview - How do I protect my workers?.

How to measure the sound of a gunshot