The Benchmark for Occupational Noise Assessments
Noise assessment as an investment that should pay for itself...
Our occupational noise assessment report is the industry benchmark. As the IOSH approved competency training organisation, we train assessors and also review a cross section of typical noise assessment reports. An INVC report provides a programme of action that details precisely what constitutes "best practice" to meet all the requirements of the Control of Noise at Work Regulations in your specific circumstances. It is a pragmatic working document, designed for the use of managers and safety professionals, enabling them to implement effective action to manage the risks as cost effectively as practical. In many cases, they can be issued "as is" as a statement of company policy.
 HSE data indicates that most noise assessments are "inadequate" - reassessment required
 Digital Noise Assessment (DNA) benchmark - automate and template to cut costs
and resources
 Noise Control Audit - a mandatory (and cost effective) part of any noise assessment
 Move your noise assessment updates in-house - training and technical support to make substantial cost savings
Noise Assessment Quality Check-list - what should you expect from a good noise assessment
Noise Assessment Quality and the Cost of Claims
The HSE figures for 2002 highlight the generally poor quality of noise assessment in the UK. 63% of companies had "inadequate" noise assessments ie a re-assessment would be required to bring them up to the necessary standard. HSE research also indicates that it costs a company £7000 - £36000 to process every £1000 paid out in claims. A large proportion of this cost is often a consequence both of the difficulties inherent in extracting historical information from past paper based noise assessments in different formats and of the variable quality of historical noise assessment reports.
INVC Occupational Noise Assessments Assessed
". . . exactly the way noise assessments should be presented . . . . loved the way the technical details are separated from the practical recommendations . . . . the noise action plan section is ideal . . . . . particularly impressed by the low costs associated with the noise control options to actually solve some of the problems . . ." |
Digital Noise Assessment (DNA) - Optimise and Automate Occupational Noise Assessment
The opportunity to reduce the costs, resources and time required to manage the risks of noise at work by 90% or more ...
 Our Digital Noise Assessment (DNA) provides you with benchmark high quality report and presentation templates that cover all the requirements of the noise regulations - including the all important practical and pragmatic plan of action.
It also puts your noise measurements and risk assessments on the company server so that you can find and use the information fast.
We provide the initial template so that future updates can be implemented quickly and cheaply in-house. In addition, DNA can also include a comprehensive evaluation of the noise control options using the best of current technology.
- Speed: template noise assessment report format and tools make assessments and updates much faster and easier
- Reduced Costs: instant access to past data reduces the costs of potential claims by at least an order of magnitude
- Effective Action and Distribution: an Action Plan that encourages effective and practical action
- Quality and Accuracy: Digital Noise Assessment provides a benchmark template that is a distillation of best practice
- Record Keeping, Accessibility: all noise assessment data is instantly accessible - a Cure for Corporate Amnesia
Noise Control Audit - a requirement of the noise at work regulations
The new occupational Control of Noise at Work Regulations require a seismic shift in attitude to noise management in the workplace. Quoting the guidance - “these regulations are concerned with controlling noise, not measuring it...”. Consequently, companies must now quantify their noise control options rather than simply repeating risk assessments that usually include little or no information on the topic. Moreover, PPE can no longer be used for long term risk management unless it can be proved that noise control is impractical.
We provide the audit as an integral part of our benchmark noise assessments. However, it can also be commissioned to update an existing conventional noise assessment so that it meets the regulatory requirements. It can also be used in place of a repeat risk assessment - saving the associated costs.
| Instead of paying for unnecessary repeat risk assessments under the new regulations, implement a noise control programme that actually reduces the risks - and potentially pays for itself ... |
The engineering audit generates a costed list of the noise control options and associated benefits either for a single machine or for a whole site using the best of current technology. The results not only provide the basis for planning the most practical and cost effective noise control programme possible, they also provide certification that PPE can be used in areas where it can be shown that noise control is not practical. Download the Noise Control Audit technical note > [280kB pdf]
Moving Noise Assessment Updates In-House to Reduce Costs
Noise Measurement Training Workshop and In-house Assessment Technical Support
The regulations require only that you review noise assessments every two years.
Consequently, provided you have a high quality template noise assessment report, updating it in-house is a quick and painless process that can save you a small (or even not such a small) fortune. We have devised an "a la carte" menu of technical support options to help companies do just this. Simply select the items you need from the list below and contact us to discuss the details of how we can help you..
Noise measurement training workshops
One day practical workshop designed to ensure that delegates can make accurate noise measurements and can update previous assessments. We run these as public courses on a regular basis, but can also run them in-house using your own site for the practical work.
Accompanied noise assessments
Carry out your initial assessment update
on a part (or the whole) of a site in the company of one of our engineers. This provides hands-on experience with the reassurance that the process and techniques are to the required standard. It can also be extended to include updating or establishing new templates and adding the noise control element (see below).
Template noise assessment report
If you do not have a existing noise assessment template that is of sufficient quality, we can carry out an assessment of part (or the whole) of a typical site or department and provide you with a DNA template for future use across the company.
Other areas and future assessments can then be updated in-house
Noise Control Audit
This is available as a stand-alone
element to update an existing noise assessment by adding the required evaluation of the the noise control options. See above (or the noise control web page) for more details.
Noise Assessment Quality Check-List - what should you expect from a good noise assessment?
The CoNaW Regulations require a substantial change in attitude compared with the "traditional" and prevalent approach to noise assessment as a "check-box " process. Ultimately, the only reason to carry out a noise assessment is to establish an Action Plan for the next 2 years based on current best practice in risk management.
Control of Noise at Work Regulations - Revised Noise Assessment Expectations
There are significant changes required in the approach to occupational noise assessment and management under the new regulations. Re-assessment may not be necessary - provided you have good existing data, a review and minor update may be all that is needed. However, the noise assessment must provide you with a detailed programme of action. Investing in a high quality and practical assessment as a template for future updates is good practice . In addition, an evaluation of the noise control options is required as controlling noise is a priority - PPE cannot be used as a long term solution unless it can be proved that noise control is not practical. Quoting the HSE:-
“...these regulations are concerned with controlling noise, not measuring it..... Health surveillance can be regarded as a tax on the failure to control risk...... the most important thing about the risk assessment is that it identifies, in an action plan, what needs to be done to protect employees from the noise. Employers would be expected to use the information and action plan produced by the risk assessment to set about managing noise risks...... if solutions have been identified “stop assessing and start controlling....." |
The following is an outline of the key elements and features that you should expect to be included under each of the 4 headings in any practical and effective noise assessment report, whether in-house or via a consultant.
 noise measurement   risk assessment  noise control options  Action Plan
Noise Measurement
 Include noise level figures on a CAD drawing or table / database (mobile plant)
 Do not use reference numbers on plans linked to tables of noise data - this is both inefficient and annoying....
Include the minimum data for each measurement point: Leq, peak - plus octave bands only when absolutely necessary
Do not download interminable and irrelevant data from your digital SLM e.g. Lns, Lmin, Lmax, SEL, octaves....
Dosimetry Data - Be Careful....
The (sadly) common "single day" short-term dosimeter based noise assessments are not recommended unless hand-held meter measurements are impractical. The results acquired over the first day of noise measurement are usually substantially different from those of subsequent days. Consequently, dosimetry should ideally be used over a period of time that is sufficient to generate statistically valid data. Note that dosimeters are inherently less accurate than hand-held meters and, unless carefully used, can give measurement errors of as much as 2 - 6dB(A). Consequently, there have been several cases where the incorrect use of dosimeters in noise assessments has led to workplaces being wrongly defined as noise hazard areas at considerable cost to the employer and unnecessary discomfort to the employees.
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Risk Assessment
ID employees exposed above Action Values, provide estimated LEP,d values and how the dose is acquired (sources)
Evaluation of effectiveness of current risk management procedures and where legal requirements are not met
Noise Control Options
Audit the noise control options (options, costs, benefits and priorities) and evaluate existing noise control measures
Action Plan
Short term: PPE zones and signs; types and availability of PPE; employee training requirements...
Longer Term: noise control programme; Buy Quiet policy; company procedures / responsibilities; health surveillance
Call us or contact us via the "Contact" button at the top of the page if you would like to discuss any of these elements in more detail.
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noise control audit - digital noise assessment - noise competency training - noise training - product noise control - fan noise control - VWF (Vibration White Finger) - Hand-Arm Vibration (HAV) assessment - HAV competency training - HAV database (HAV-Base) - Whole Body Vibration (WBV) measurement - environmental noise control - noise nuisance - environmental noise monitoring - production line testing (noise and vibration) - noise nuisance / annoyance recorders - frequency analyser and noise analyser software
Industrial Noise & Vibration Centre
889 Plymouth Road, Slough Berks SL1 4LP
Tel: 01753 698800 Fax: 01753 567 988
email:consult@invc.co.uk
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