Starting Out With Noise at Work
Noise at Work: the few things that matter most, and the mistakes that catch people out early.
Exposure to loud noise sufficient to cause permanent hearing damage.
Key takeaways
- Lower action level: 80 dB daily average
- Upper action level: 85 dB daily average
- Most useful single change: Wear the hearing protection provided, correctly and consistently.
- Commonest mistake: Removing protection "just for a minute" in a noisy area.
- See a doctor if any of the signs under "When to speak to a doctor" below apply to you.
Why bother
Noise-induced hearing loss is entirely preventable, completely irreversible, and still one of the commonest occupational diseases.
Start here
These two first. Everything else is easier once they are habit.
- Wear the hearing protection provided, correctly and consistently
- Attend workplace hearing surveillance
Then add these
Once the first two are automatic, these are worth adding.
- Report equipment that has become louder
- Protect hearing outside work too; damage is cumulative
The numbers, in one place
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Lower action level | 80 dB daily average |
| Upper action level | 85 dB daily average |
| Exposure limit | 87 dB |
| Rule of thumb | if you must shout to be heard at 2 metres, it is too loud |
| Damage | permanent and cumulative |
Common early mistakes
- Removing protection "just for a minute" in a noisy area
- Assuming you have got used to the noise; that is damage, not adaptation
- Ignoring tinnitus after a shift
Where to go next
- Noise at Work, Explained Without the Jargon
- Noise at Work: The Practical To-Do List
- Noise at Work — the reference entry
- Manual Handling: What Published Guidance Supports
- Returning to Work After Illness: What Published Guidance Supports
When to speak to a doctor
Seek same-day medical assessment for sudden hearing loss in one or both ears — sudden sensorineural hearing loss is treatable but the window is days. See a GP for persistent tinnitus, muffled hearing after work, or difficulty following conversation, and tell occupational health.
Where this comes from
- Health and Safety Executive — noise at work
- NHS — Hearing loss
How this page was put together
Every figure, recommendation and warning above is taken from the guidance named in Where this comes from. Nothing on this page is inferred, summarised or generalised beyond what those bodies publish: where they give a number, it is their number, and where they are silent, so are we. Pages are rebuilt whenever the underlying record changes. Sign-off by a named clinician, where it has happened, is shown at the top of the page along with the date.
Medical disclaimer
This article is general information, not medical advice. It cannot account for your own history, medication or circumstances. Always speak to a GP, pharmacist or another qualified health professional before making changes that affect your treatment, and never delay seeking medical advice because of something you have read here. In an emergency, call 999.
Spotted something wrong? Report an error on this page. We correct on the page and say what changed.
