Noise at Work regulations

Last Updated: May 10

Category: General News

The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 which came into force in April 2006 aim to eliminate or reduce risks from exposure to noise, to protect the hearing of employees.

Your business will probably need to do something about noise if:

• The noise is intrusive for most of the working day.

• Employees have to raise their voices to carry out a normal conversation when only 2m apart.

• An employee uses noisy power tools or machinery for more than half an hour each day.

• You work in a noisy industry such as construction, woodworking or engineering.

• You work in an industry where there are noises due to impacts, for example hammering, pneumatic impact tools and drop forging.

In order to protect the hearing of their employees, businesses must assess and identify measures to eliminate or reduce risks from exposure to noise. For further information call the Health and Safety Executive on 0845 345 0045 or visit