Noise At Work

Noise is something we’ll all be familiar with, whether that be at home or at work. However, it’s probably something that we only really notice or contemplate when it’s unwanted or unpleasant. But noise exposure can be dangerous and can lead to lifelong hearing issues. We’ve all heard about how Pete Townshend, Brian Johnson and other old rockers are now unable to play or tour because of the effects of exposure to loud noise over time.

And recently the HSE found that three-quarters of noisy workplaces lacked essential knowledge on maintaining hearing protection equipment.

Just like any other hazard in the workplace, the potential consequences of exposure need to be managed effectively. The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 set the exposure limits for workers as well as the actions employers should take to reduce that exposure.

Whilst there are areas of our industry where high noise exposure is obvious – such as during SFX explosions – managing general noise exposure can be more challenging. This is particularly true in situations where potentially hazardous noise is sporadic or temporary in nature, such as only occurring during a performance or rehearsal.

Another example is in editing, where you might be listening with headphones or at louder volumes, but only for short bursts over a period of hours. It can be difficult to assess whether noise is likely to be a significant hazard or to determine what practical steps can be taken. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do anything.

There are couple of things you can do to help assess whether loud noise may be a concern. In situations where team members are regularly exposed to potential loud noise, such as in edit suites, you can undertake regular monitoring of noise levels and look to use limited headphones.

Another easy step is to ensure that where noise has already been identified as a hazard and PPE is required, people are actually wearing it.

As with all topics, we can only skim the surface here. If you’d like support in managing noise in your workplace, please contact us.