Your Occupational Noise Obligations

Our Occupational Noise Obligations flowchart provides a quick, and easy to use, one page guide to what you need to do to comply with occupational noise requirements under OHS/WHS regulations around Australia.

Download the Flow Chart

How JTA Can Help

Our Occupational Noise Assessment will help you ensure the health and safety of your employees exposed to noise. It will determine how loud the noise is and how long employees are exposed to it by using the latest noise monitoring equipment.  We use dosimetry as standard for all Occupational Noise Assessments as this ensures a more accurate result and less work for employers. Without dosimetry, employee noise exposures need to be calculated by determining where they are throughout their shifts.

An Occupational Noise Assessment Includes:

• Personal sound exposure measurements (dosimetry)
• Individual noise measurements at worker positions and of equipment
• Octave-band analysis of noise sources to verify if the hearing protection utilised is appropriate
• Colour-coded noise maps of your workplace
• Compliance audit of signage, hearing protection and implementation of noise controls
• Measurement of noise exposure levels and comparison to legislative requirements
• Recommendations for appropriate hearing protection
• Suggested engineering noise controls
• Comprehensive report and action plan with practical control measures

The Benefits

• Awareness of noise hazards and actions required by state law
• Safe work environment with the correct PPE for employees
• Peace of mind that legal risks are minimised
• Long term hearing protection for your employees
• Compliance and the avoidance of penalties

Your Duty in Relation to Occupational Noise Assessments

As an employer you must identify, assess and control the noise risk to your employees and others. OHS/WHS Regulations stipulate that employers have a duty of care to ensure that:

• Employees are not exposed to noise which can harm their health and safety
• Hearing protection and signage is provided if noise is over the Noise Exposure Standard
• Audiometric testing of employees is provided if they are required to wear hearing protection

Once a noise risk has been identified, you must carry out an Occupational Noise Assessment within the workplace, and every 5 years at a minimum.
Click here to see Daily Noise Exposure Limits

Follow Up Assessments

If changes are made to your workplace that can affect noise exposure, you’re required to carry out another assessment to determine how the noise risk has changed. Changes may include;

• New machinery
• Alterations to procedures and shifts
• Building renovations