GUIDELINES TO

THE NOISE
REGULATIONS
Athlone Regional Office
Achieving Government Buildings
a Pearse Street

Healthy Athlone
Co Westmeath

Safe
Tel: (0902) 92608
and Fax: (0902) 92914

Cork Regional Office

Working Life 3rd Floor

1A South Mall

-Together Cork
Tel: (021) 4251212
Fax: (021) 4251217

Galway Regional Office

HEALTH AND SAFETY
Odeon House
AUTHORITY HEADQUARTERS
Eyre Square
10 Hogan Place, Dublin 2 Galway
Tel. (01) 614 7000 Tel: (091) 563985
Fax. (01) 614 7020 Fax: (091) 564091
e-mail: infotel@hsa.ie
Limerick Regional Office
website: www.hsa.ie Ground Floor
Park House
1-2 Barrington Street
Limerick
Tel: (061) 419900
Fax: (061) 419559

Sligo Regional Office

Government Offices
Your Safety Cranmore Road
Questions Answered
(01) 614 7010 Sligo
Tel: (071) 43942
Fax: (071) 44078

Waterford Regional Office

5th Floor
Government Buildings
The Glen
Waterford
Tel: (051) 875892
Fax: (051) 870610 © Health and Safety Authority 5/03 AW

These guidelines are intended for
employers and employees to assist
in understanding the Regulations on
Noise* which came into effect on
1st July 1990. They are not a legal
interpretation of the Regulations.
*European Communities
(Protection of Workers)
(Exposure to Noise) Regulations
1990, S.I. No. 157 of 1990
replacing the Factories (Noise)
Regulations, 1975, S.I. No. 235 of
1975.
These may be obtained from:
Government Publications Sales
Office,
Sun Alliance House, Molesworth
Street,
Dublin 2.
Tel: (01) 661 3111
Published in Oct. 1995 by the
Health and Safety Authority,
10 Hogan Place, Dublin 2.
© All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may
be reproduced, stored in a
retrieval system, or transmitted
in any form or by any means,
electronic, mechanical,
photocoying, recording or
otherwise, without the prior
permission of the Health and
Safety Authority.
Exposure to high levels of noise,
either continuously or as a sudden
loud ““bang”” from cartridge
operated tools or guns, can cause
incurable deafness, often
accompanied by a ringing in the
ears. Noise will also interfere
with communications and so
increase the risks of accidents.
The important factors
in causing noise induced
hearing loss are:
•• the level of noise
this is measured in decibels
(dBA). Because the noise levels
can vary throughout a working
day, it may be necessary to
measure noise using a meter
which gives an average level for
the day.
As a rough guide, if it is
difficult to hear normal
conversation at 2 m, the noise
level is probably too high
(over 85 dBA)
•• the length of time a person is
exposed to noise, both during the
day and the cumulative amounts
over a matter of years.
As well as the noise associated
with work, additional sources from
piped music or personal stereos can
contribute to the overall noise level.
Purpose of the
Regulations
The Regulations are aimed at
protecting workers from the risks to
their hearing caused by noise and at
preventing hearing loss and
deafness.
They apply to all workplaces
and all workers (except, for the
moment, crew members in sea or
air transport)
The Regulations include
requirements for:
•• identifying a noise problem and
assessing the levels.
•• keeping records
•• action to be taken to reduce the
risk from noise by reducing it at
source
•• ear protections
•• hearing checks
•• inspection of records
•• penalties for a breach of the
Regulations.
Identifying a noise
problem (Reg. 4)
An employer must assess the level
of noise in the workplace.
If any workers are exposed to a
daily personal noise exposure above
85 dBA, then measurements must
be taken. These measurements
must be properly planned and
carried out by a competent person.
A competent person is someone
with knowledge of the Regulations,
the ability to use and understand the
equipment, record and interpret the
results and to make
recommendations on reducing the
risks of hearing damage.
The measurements must be
repeated at appropriate intervals, in
particular, when there is any
significant change in work patterns
or equipment. The measurements
taken must reflect the actual amount
of noise the worker is exposed to
over the working day.
The measurements may be taken
in the workplace used by the worker
or by using instruments attached to
the worker.
Maintenance of Records
(Reg. 4)
The results of each assessment or
measurement should be recorded on
the form as in Annex 1 of the
Regulations. These records must be
kept for three years and be available
to the worker concerned or his
representative and by the inspectors
of the Health and Safety Authority.
ACTION YOU SHOULD TAKE TO REDUCE Ear protection (Reg. 7)
THE RISK FROM NOISE The employer must supply
sufficient numbers of suitable ear
protectors, consulting the workers
In general… (Reg.6) regarding the suitability and
An employer has a duty to reduce the level of noise exposure in the workplace to the lowest level adequacy of the type chosen.
reasonably practicable: Ear protectors are only suitable
and adequate if, when properly
•• in the first instance by quietening the source of the noise. This could be achieved by for example,
worn, they will reduce the level of
enclosing the noise source, by screening affected workers or by providing quiet work areas.
noise below 90 dBA.
Machine modifications or relocation of noisy machines to unmanned areas may also be a
Part of the necessary training
possibility. When replacing machinery, quieter models should be specified.
will be to ensure that workers know
•• it might also be possible to reduce the number of people working in a noisy area, or the length of exactly how to use the ear
time which they spend there. protectors chosen.
There are ISO and British
Standards for ear protectors.
WHEN THE NOISE EXPOSURE LEVEL IS TOO HIGH
between 85 AND 90 -above 90 dBA (Reg. 5 & 6)
dBA (Reg. 5) In addition to the previous
requirements, when the exposure level
The employer must (in addition to
is above 90 dBA the employer has:
reducing noise levels as above) inform
•• to identify the reasons for the
each potentially affected worker and
excess noise level and put in place
their representatives of:
a programme of reduction
•• the measurements taken of the measures as outlined above
noise and the possible risk to •• to put up clearly visible and legible
hearing signs indicating that the noise in the
•• what is being done to reduce the area is likely to exceed 90 dBA.
noise level Workers and their representatives
•• the advisability of wearing ear must be informed:
protectors, where and how to •• that the daily personal exposure
obtain and how to wear them
•• hearing checks that are available
may exceed 90 dBA and of the
potential damage to hearing
and provide any appropriate •• about the measurements taken of
training. the noise levels
•• about what is being done to reduce
the noise levels
•• that ear protection is available and
must be worn
Workers must be trained where This sign should be displayed
necessary. wherever there is a risk of noise
above 90dBA.
Hearing checks (Reg. 8)* Exemptions from the
Workers who are exposed to a noise
level above 85 dBA (whether or not
Regulations (Reg. 9)
In limited circumstances,
hearing protection is used) may
exemptions from the Regulations
have their hearing checked. The
may be granted by obtaining a
purpose of this hearing check is to
written certificate from the Minister
detect any early hearing loss.
for Enterprise, Trade and
The employer must make the
Employment. These are detailed in
necessary arrangements for the
Reg. 9 of the Regulations.
workers to have hearing checks
carried out by a competent medical
practitioner.
Competent means being able to
carry out the hearing check and Penalties for a breach of
audiometry as indicated in the
Regulations.
the Regulations (Reg.10)
Any person, who contravenes any
The medical practitioner must:
of the Regulations, is guilty of an
•• keep a record of the hearing
offence, and on conviction is liable
checks for fifteen years.
to a fine not exceeding €1,500.
•• allow each worker to see their
Both a company and an individual
own hearing check records.
may be prosecuted.
•• explain to each worker the
If, after conviction, the offence
significance of the records.
continues, a further fine of up to
•• inform both the employer and
€100 per day may be imposed.
worker of any preventative
In addition, the court may require a
measures necessary
convicted person to remedy any of
•• make the records available for
the matters which gave rise to the
inspection by those Health and
conviction.
Safety Inspectors who are
medical practitioners.

*Detailed guidelines on hearing

checks and audiometry are available
from the HSA.