Checklist

A Barbour Checklist for Enforcement Officers: Noise in

the Workplace
Reviewed February 2022

When carrying out a review of workplace noise it is important to consider the location, those likely to be affected, the source and
type of noise, and what is needed to comply with the law. Noise is unwanted, distracting or harmful sound. The main risks are:
irreversible hearing damage, fatigue, stress and communication problems. This checklist covers potentially harmful noise as
opposed to noise nuisance.

Name of business/
organisation

Number and nature

of employees
including any at
special risk, e.g.
young, pregnant?

Director/person Name …………………………… Contact telephone number …………………………

responsible for
health and safety Other source of competent health and safety advice (Internal/external – Please state)

………………………………………………………………………………..
Person within the
organisation
responsible for
workplace noise
issues
construction □ demolition or road repair □ acoustic/recorded music □
Does work include entertainment □ vehicle tyre/exhaust repair □ canning or bottling □
any of the following: woodworking □ plastics processing □ paper or board making □
engineering □ textile manufacture □ warehousing □
foundries □ forging, pressing or stamping □ general fabrication □
leisure activities (eg go-karting) □
other? ………………………..………….
hammering □ amplified music (pubs/nightclubs/concerts/live venues) □
What sources of drop forging □ noisy machinery □ pneumatic impact tools □
noise exist in the drills □ chainsaws □ low frequency noise (eg drone/hum) □
workplace? workshop machinery □ explosive sources such as cartridge-operated tools or detonators □
farm animals □ wrapping cargo pallets/goods in cling film □ piling □

other?....................................................................................

Noise hazards Yes □ No □

identified within the
workplace health Notes:
and safety risk
assessment?

Enforcement Officer Name: …………………………….. Signed ……………………………

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 Checklist Y/N/NA Notes
Policy and Management
Does the company’s health and safety policy include
workplace noise and its prevention?

Has a noise risk assessment been undertaken?

Is the risk assessment comprehensive and satisfactory?
Name and qualification of person who carried out the Name ………………………….
noise assessment
Qualification
…………………………
Does the company policy cover the identification,
assessment and management of noise hazards?

Name of person responsible for the noise prevention

programme to ensure that all managers, supervisors,
and employees understand their obligations?

Is there a system for employees to inform management

about workplace noise hazards? Are employees aware
of this system?
Noise risk
Has the employer identified where noise hazards exist
including: - locations
- jobs
- processes and procedures

Has the level of noise exposure for the above locations

and activities been identified?

Has the assessment identified locations and activities

which are a) above the upper action value and b) above
the lower action value?

Has the use of noisy machines, tools and processes

been avoided where possible?

Is the requirement for, or advice to wear, hearing

protection, clearly indicated to staff?

Are work areas, access points to noise hazard zones

and equipment suitably labelled to show the hazard and
the action required?

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 Checklist Y/N/NA Notes
Has design been used so far as is reasonably
practicable to minimise noise? (e.g. enclosure, anti-
vibration mounts, use of baffles, sound insulation, quiet
rooms)

Are quiet and noisy workplaces separated from one

another?

Have suitable measures, such as soundproof ceilings,

been taken in the case of reverberating rooms or if
noise is transmitted from distant sources?

Are noise levels taken into account when purchasing

new machinery and equipment?

Are organisational measures for reducing exposure to

workplace noise considered?
(e.g. carrying out work outside where it does not create
nuisance, regular working hours or allowing regular
breaks away from noise source for exposed
employees)

Has suitable hearing protection been provided for those

at risk from workplace noise?

Are arrangements in place to store, maintain and

replace these as needed?

Is the condition of non-disposable hearing protection

equipment checked regularly?

Name of person responsible for issue and checking of

Name …………………………..
hearing protection equipment

Are the control measures sufficient to control the risks

of exposure to noise at work?
Training
Are employees instructed about noise hazards, the
required protective measures and the correct use of
hearing protection and any maintenance and
replacement requirements?

Is training carried out sufficiently frequently?

Do temporary workers receive the same training as

permanent staff?

Are training records kept? This is good practice.

Are employees made aware of their own responsibility

under the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 to
use the control measures provided by their employer, in
accordance with any training provided?

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 Checklist Y/N/NA Notes
Health surveillance
Are workers exposed to noise levels above the upper
exposure action values offered regular audiometry
checks?

Are records of such health surveillance kept

appropriately?

Are employees able to receive information relating to

their own health surveillance on request?
Further Information

 Further guidance can be found at: www.hse.gov.uk/noise

 Noise at Work – Brief Guide to Controlling the Risks IND(G)362
 Controlling Noise at Work – 'Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005' – Guidance on Regulations (ACOP)
(L108)
 The British Tinnitus Association is at: http://www.tinnitus.org.uk
 Noise – Don’t Lose Your Hearing! INDG363
 Sound Advice – Control of Noise at Work in Music and Entertainment – HSG260
 Sound Solutions for Food and Drink Industries – Reducing Noise in Food and Drink Manufacturing HSG232
 Noise exposure calculators which can help work out daily or weekly noise exposure and to estimate the
effectiveness of hearing protection www.hse.gov.uk/noise/calculator.htm

Appendices: Underpinning knowledge

A. Legal duties of the company and enforcing officers:

 The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974

Employers have a legal duty under this Act to ensure, so far as it reasonably practicable, the health, safety
and welfare at work of their employees.
 The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005
Employers must prevent or reduce risks to health and safety from exposure to noise at work.
 The Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008
Suppliers must design and construct machinery so that the noise produced is as low as possible and provide
information about the noise the machine produces under actual working conditions. New machinery must be
provided with information on the risks from noise at workstations.

Disclaimer

These example forms, checklists and model policies are provided by Barbour for general guidance on matters of interest. In making these
documents available to a general and diverse audience it is not possible to anticipate the requirements or the hazards of any subscriber’s
business. Users are therefore advised to carefully evaluate the contents and adapt the forms and checklists to suit the requirements of each
situation. Barbour does not accept any liability whatsoever for injury, damage or other losses which may arise from reliance on this
information and the use of these documents.

Copyright of these documents remains with Barbour and whilst subscribers are permitted to make use of them for their own purposes,
permission is not granted for resale of the intellectual property to third parties.

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