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Noise and Sound
Common Questions

What are the differences between this new controlling noise at work regulations and the old noise at work regulations?
The main differences are:
  1. The two action values for daily noise exposure have been reduced by 5dB to 80dB and 85dB.
  2. There are now two action values for peak noise at 135dB and 137dB.
  3. There are new exposure limit values of 87dB (daily exposure) and 140dB (peak noise) that take into account the effect of wearing of hearing protection and which must not be exceeded.
  4. Daily and weekly exposure levels can be used to determine level of personal noise exposure.
  5. There is a specific requirement to provide health surveillance (as a control measure) where there is a risk to health

What activities are likely to require a noise assessment?
Those Divisions whose staff are involved in activities, which produce noise, need to ensure that appropriate controls are in place. The following are examples (not exhaustive) of activities that may involve noise:
  1. Broadcast communications and engineering in workshops and in situ.
  2. Workshops e.g. scenery construction.
  3. Building services and maintenance e.g. plant rooms.
  4. Maintenance electrical, engineering, vehicle.
  5. Programme making e.g. music, use of weapons and visual effects.
  6. Sports journalists and crew.
  7. News journalists.
  8. Use of ear pieces and headphones e.g. reporters, office work, sports commentators, in vision presenters, camera operators, editors, studio managers.
  9. Outside broadcast and other resources staff.
  10. Loud speaker monitoring.
  11. Orchestras and musicians.
  12. Event staff.
  13. Control rooms and DJ's.
 
What needs to be done?

For those Divisions whose staff are involved in activities identified as noisy, then:

  1. A noise risk assessment must be carried out or reviewed.
  2. The action(s) identified to reduce that risk must be put in place.
  3. Staff must be provided with suitable hearing protection.
  4. Staff must be provided information, instruction and training on protecting hearing health.
  5. Those regularly exposed to an average level of 85dB (or close to it) over an average working day / week, must have hearing health surveillance provided.
 
Who can carry out the noise assessment?
If noise is a core part of your day to day activity then it would be sensible to identify someone/people in your Division or Department(s) who can be trained to be a noise assessor.  They will then be on hand to manage the day-to-day noise risk in your areas, do the monitoring and provide the necessary expertise. 
 
Comprehensive training is available in the form of the Noise Assessment Competency Course.
 
Employees who are identified as being at risk, and managers who need to be greater informed should attend the Noise at Work Awareness Course.
 
 
We need to use unlimited headphones in our job role, how can this be done safely?
Unlimited headphones can be used under these conditions;
 
1. Full risk assessment conducted and personnel who are going to use them identified - identifying job positions only is not enough.
 
RA must cover; Why unlimited? (this must be fully justified), the risks exposed too - hazards and likelihood occurring?, the precautions/controls in place and must be authorised by a senior manager (this list is not exhaustive).
 
2. Identified persons must do the 1/2 day noise awareness course - and a refresher every 3 years
 
3. Identified persons must agree to hearing health surveillance - baseline now and OH defined follow-up's. Manager must refer to OH as soon as possible for baseline to be carried out.
 
4. Identified persons to be given copy of RA and taken through it - suggest strongly that a register is kept of all those using the headphones and they sign it.
 
5. Unlimited headphones are to be personally issued to the wearers and they sign for them (see 4. above) and agree to ensure that they are only used by themselves.
 
None of the above is voluntary, it is all mandatory, if unlimited headphones are to be used anywhere in the BBC.
 
It is also strongly suggested that any purchasing order should also incl. a copy of the risk assessment, to justify purchasing them.
 

Where can I get help and advice?
  • myRisks Information
  • BBC Safety
  • Sound engineers and similar in Resource departments
  • Online Noise assessment programme (in development)
  • Noise Policy Document
  • DV solutions
  • Local authority Environmental Health Departments (nuisance noise).
  • Procurement of equipment procedure/guidance (to be developed).
  • Maintenance procedure/guidance (to be developed).

 

What are the recommendations on noise exposure for children?
The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 restrict the employment of young people (that is those under 18) where there is a risk to health from noise.  Employers must also ensure that young people employed by them are protected against any risks to their health and safety at work that are due to their inexperience, immaturity and lack of awareness of risk.   Particular care should be taken with risks to the hearing of children (that is young workers under the compulsory school age.)
It is good practice to limit the noise exposure of children to less than half that of adults, for example where adults may be exposed to an average of 80 dB over 8 hours, a child should only be exposed to an average of 77 dB over a maximum of 4 hours.
 
 
What's the policy on people using personal headphones in offices to listen to CD's, iPods etc?
If iPods are required for work then a docking station should be provided - with limited headphones - for listening through the PC.
Generally, the use of personal headphones for 'casual' listening should be discouraged.  Where it is allowed/encouraged then departments could provide limited headphones for staff or else information on safe listening levels.
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