Do I need a workplace noise risk assessment?
An employer must assess the risk if employees are likely to be exposed at or above the lower exposure action value. The first question is whether work patterns and sound levels make that plausible, not whether anyone has already bought a noise meter.
Check my situationLook for a credible exposure signal
HSE conversation clues, existing readings, noisy tasks, impacts and hearing concerns all warrant attention. The tool can flag these signals, but only a suitable assessment of the actual workers and work can establish exposure and controls.
- Can workers hold a normal conversation during the noisy task?
- Do short impacts or different shifts change the likely peak or daily exposure?
- Have machine changes, new shifts or complaints made an older assessment unreliable?
What to do next: Record the selected signals, task durations and worker groups. If exposure cannot be reasonably estimated from reliable information, ask a competent person to decide what measurements and assessment are needed.
80 and 85 dB are different triggers
The lower action value of 80 dB(A) requires assessment and action such as information and making hearing protection available. The upper value of 85 dB(A) brings stronger duties. Peak values also matter. These are personal exposure values, not simple room readings.
No fixed annual survey rule
HSE calls for review when an assessment may no longer be valid or there is a significant change. Regular checks can be prudent, but this finder does not invent an annual statutory survey frequency.
A quiet answer needs evidence too
No selected clue is not a legal exemption. If tasks or exposure are unknown, the answer should remain uncertain until the employer has a credible basis for deciding whether the lower action value could be reached.