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Comparison of meters
Environmental noise
Noise awareness training

"Just had the chance to look at this. Cracking job – delighted".
Ian Riches, Ciasu Consulting, 2011 on HSMC's noise assessments

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Noise survey vs
noise assessment

Technically a 'noise survey' is simply a measure of general noise levels in the workplace. A 'noise assessment' is a measure of personal risk arising from noise exposures and must include recommendations for noise reduction where possible.

Often these terms are mixed up and used interchangably. To be clear, the Noise Regulations require a noise assessment and although it may be referred to as a noise survey, HSMC provide assessments allowing you to comply with the Noise Regs.
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Free guide to choosing the right hearing protection

Chart summarising 2005 Control of Noise at Work regs.

Noise assessments and Noise awareness training

HSMC can conduct both noise assessments and noise awareness training for you.

Noise surveys or noise assessments are used where noise is suspected to be a hazard and risk assessments for noise are required by the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005. One of the first questions employers have to decide is whether they need a noise survey in the first place, after all, there's no point in paying someone to do a noise assessment if there is no risk present. This initial decision is a bit of guesswork on the part of the employer but the following are useful signs to look out for:

People have to talk loudly to be understood by someone 2m away. I SAID, PEOPLE HAVE TO TALK LOUDLY....
Employees complain that their ears 'ring' when they go somewhere quiet.
You have manufacturer's information for your equipment giving the noise levels generated by it during use and if this is over 85dB you should have a survey.
Employees comment that when they drive home in the evening they put the stereo on at a reasonable volume in the car, then when they get back into the car the following morning the first thing they have to do is turn the volume down again.

If you think any of these may apply to your workplace or to people working in the areas concerned then a noise survey is needed to measure the actual levels present.

Using the latest equipment and Institute of Acoustics certified assessors HSMC can undertake this noise assessment for you, providing valuable data on the noise risk levels present and helping you comply with the regulations.

Noise surveys / noise assessments include:

Type 1 noise measurement
	Noise meters commonly come in two 'Types'. Type 2 is the minimum standard for assessments which are in compliance with the Noise Regulations. Type 1 is the 'gold standard', offering greater levels of accuracy and reliability.
Average noise exposures including personal dosemeters
	HSMC will measure the noise received by your employees and will provide the noise measurement results required to fully comply with the noise regs. We have two methods for doing this, firstly the hand-held units provide logging data for both general noise and the complete octave range. This way we can accurately measure noise levels at the workplaces. The second is the personal dose monitoring which is done with several wearable dosemeters in the form of metal 'badges', (known as dosimetry). After downloading to the main unit the pattern of the noise exposure experienced by the wearer is provided in the form of a graph, along with the actual noise exposure for the period monitored.
Octave Band Noise Analysis
	In addition to the overall or total noise levels, we provide a breakdown of the noise into its component frequencies. Why do you need this? Hearing protection such as muffs or plugs offer varying levels of protection at different frequencies therefore providing an analysis of the frequency levels allows selection of the appropriate hearing protection.
Peak Sound Pressures
	Some noises are sharp, fast percussive sounds and in these instances the peak sound pressure is important.
Employer's Noise Survey Report and Noise Assessment
	Our noise survey reports include all the following as standard: Possibly the most commonly read section - a plain-language management summary of the findings, to-the-point detail of where it is loud and a synopsis of what you need to do about it. Average sound exposure values and all personal monitoring results. Identification of noise peaks and the values they reached. Octave band sound analysis for areas in excess of 85dB(A). Comments and recommendations on the hearing protection which is appropriate for the noise risks you have, including verification of your existing hearing protection if suitable as required by the Noise at Work Regulations. Recommended noise reduction measures - an Action Plan based on the findings and observations from the noise assessment.

Octave band analysis display

Dosebadge in use

Hand-Held Meters vs Dosimetry / Dosemeters

There are two types of noise meter mentioned above and both are suitable for personal noise monitoring. Wearable dosemeters are useful in specific circumstances, for example where staff are very mobile, but are very much secondary to a good hand-held meter wielded by someone who knows what they are doing. Dosimeters are more prone to error and interference by the wearer which can be avoided by an experienced professional with a hand-held meter. We do use personal dosemeters for jobs where it is impractical to follow people around with the hand-held meter but otherwise will rely on the main noise meter itself.

Environmental noise nuisance and surveys for Building Regulation approval

HSMC specialises in workplace noise exposure for the purposes of risk assessment under the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005. Unfortunately we are unable to offer noise surveys for environmental nuisance purposes, e.g. noisy neighbours, noise from a process causing disturbance to residential areas, etc. as this is a separate discipline from workplace noise measurement. This is also the case for surveys being conducted for building regulation approval measuring factors such as noise transmission between floors and walls, etc.

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Noise awareness training

This short course (usually around one to one and a half hours) helps employers meet the training requirements of the current Noise Regulations. These regulations stipulate that all employees who may be exposed to an 8hr noise level of 85dB(A) or more must be trained in the noise hazard, its effects and the protective measures available.

Using a mixture of presentation and practical demonstration of the effects of hearing loss, HSMC ensures employees understand noise risks and helps employers comply with their legal obligations.

Noise awareness training: course content

Module 1 - Physics of Noise

• A short session on how noise works and how it impacts on the ear.

Module 2 - The Ear and Hearing

• Detail of how we hear sounds.
• The aim being to help attendees understand how the ear physically responds to noise and can be physically damaged by it.

Module 3 - Hearing Damage from Noise

• What actually happens to the ear as it begins to be damaged by noise.
• The potential outcomes such as irreparable noise induced hearing loss (NIHL) and tinnitus, the effects this has on the sufferer and a demonstration of the various stages of hearing loss.
• The intention here is to make the attendees aware of the severe yet usually ignored nature of hearing losses due noise and the effect it can have on their life.
• This is a very practical element which clearly demonstrates the effects of various types of hearing loss for the attendees.

Module 4 - Controlling Exposures and Hearing Protection

• How noise is controlled at work, through the use of physical noise reduction measures and the use of hearing protection.
• A detailed look at the types of hearing protection available and the correct use of them.
• This module aims to provide attendees with the knowledge to ensure that now they are aware of what the effect of loud noises can be they use the hearing protection correctly for the maximum benefit.

Module 5 - Audiometry (Optional)

• If the training is taking place following a session of audiometry to measure the hearing ability of the employees a short overview of audiometry can be included to add to the information they will have received in the hearing tests themselves.

Module 6 - Summary

• A summary of the session including verbal test / question and answer session.

Attendance certificates are issued following the course.

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