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Noise at work can damage your hearing if it’s too loud. Sudden, loud noises, like an explosion, and constant, loud noise, like working near industrial machinery, can both damage your hearing.
Workers must not be exposed to noise of 85 decibels or higher over the course of an 8-hour day or 40-hour week. Workers must not be exposed to a noise level above 140 decibels. Any exposure above this level could instantly damage hearing. The sound from sledgehammering can be 140 decibels or higher.
Hearing damage includes permanent or temporary hearing loss and tinnitus (ringing in the ears).
In the construction industry, some common noise sources that can damage hearing include:
- Equipment and tools
- Plant and machinery
People who work with noise and ototoxic substances (such as solvents, heavy metals and asphyxiants) are at greater risk of hearing loss. If a worker is exposed to these chemicals, the noise exposure standard is reduced from 85 decibels to 80 decibels or below.
As the person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU), you must reduce your workers exposure to noise as much as is possible.
See Part 4.1 of the Model WHS Regulations for more information.
PCBU duties |
Worker duties |
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You must reduce the workers’ exposure to noise as much as possible and manage the risks of noise-related injury. You must also provide audiometric testing for workers who you require to frequently wear personal hearing protection for their work. |
Your PCBU has a duty to keep you and your workplace safe from risks associated with noise. You also have a duty to take reasonable care of your safety and that of others in the workplace including ensuring your acts and omissions don’t adversely affect others health and safety. Comply with any reasonable instructions, policies and procedure given by your PCBU at the workplace. |
Risk management
As a PCBU, you must:
- Identify, control and assess noise hazards
- Conduct a noise assessment if your workplace has more than one source of noise above 85 decibels
- Use suitable control measures, and
- Provide personal protective equipment to workers.
Control measures
While the best way to control the risk of noise-related injury is to eliminate the noise completely. However, this is near impossible in the construction industry. You can control noise by, for example:
- Changing the equipment to reduce the noise level.
- Putting barriers between noise sources and workers.
- Limiting the time a worker spends near a noise source.
- Using longer leads, hoses and extension cords to add distance between noisy equipment and workers.
- Using personal protective equipment, like earmuffs or earplugs.
- Purchasing the quietest plant and machinery for the job. Check the noise level with the manufacturer or supplier before you buy.
- Changing the way workers do the job. For example, gluing instead of hammering, welding instead of riveting, lowering instead of dropping.
- Reducing noise levels at the source. For example, fit silencers to exhausts, turn down the volume, change fan speeds.
- Isolating the source of the noise. For example, use barriers, remote controls or sound-proof covers.
- Reducing exposure levels. For example, restricting access to noisy areas, provide quiet areas for rest breaks, or limit time spent in noisy areas by rotating tasks.
- Proper maintenance of equipment and tools can result in lower noise levels.
For more information
Model Codes of Practice
Other resources
- Hazardous noise in the workplace - infographic
- Noise hazards and sound levels - infographic
- Safe Work Australia webpage - Noise
- The interactive safe work method statement (SWMS) tool provides information on preparing, using and reviewing SWMS for high risk construction work.
