Over 1 million employees in Great Britain are exposed to levels of noise that puts their hearing at risk. The Control of Noise at Work Regulations came into force for Great Britain on 6 April 2006. Their aim is to ensure that workers' hearing is protected from excessive noise at their place of work.
Hearing loss caused by work is preventable but once your hearing has gone it won't come back.
Factors that contribute to hearing damage are noise levels and how long people are exposed to the noise, daily or over a number of years.
Am I at risk?
Do you have to raise your voice to have a normal conversation when about 2 m apart for at least part of the day?
Do you use noisy powered tools or machinery for over half an hour a day?
Resources
Key legislation
Please note that this link is to the original legislation, visitors should verify for themselves whether legislation is in force or whether it has been amended or repealed by subsequent legislation.
Related to Noise
Most recent publications
Access to information
How to request information from the Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland including Freedom of Information (FOI) and the use of our Publication Scheme.