Noise Management
Guide
All guides are intended to give further details to information contained in a particular piece of legislation, policy,
code, agreement or procedure and must therefore be read in conjunction with them.
INTRODUCTION
To meet the requirements of the Workplace Health & Safety (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2011 and
Regulations and the CDU Work Health & Safety (WHS) Policy.
This Guide is to provide information to all workers and students working in workplaces or involved in
activities where exposure to continuous or excessive noise may cause damage to worker’s hearing or
impede the ability to hear instructions and warnings whilst at work.
It is to be used in addition to, and not as a substitute for, general safety principles applicable to all types of
workshops, laboratories, research, teaching and operational activities.
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1.
Abbreviations ................................................................................................................................... 2
2.
Relevant Definitions ........................................................................................................................ 2
3.
Health and Safety Responsibilities .................................................................................................. 3
3.1 How to manage work health and safety risks ......................................................................... 3
3.2 Duty of Care ............................................................................................................................ 3
4.
General ............................................................................................................................................ 3
4.1 Workplaces and activities linked to noise and hearing loss ................................................... 4
4.2 Measuring noise levels............................................................................................................ 4
4.3 Managing noise levels ............................................................................................................. 4
5.
Induction, information, training and supervision .............................................................................. 5
6.
Signage and placarding ................................................................................................................... 5
7.
Essential Supporting Information .................................................................................................... 5
1.
Abbreviations
AS/NZS
CDU
dB
EEASE
NUL
PCBU
PPE
SDS
WHS
2.
Australian/New Zealand Standard
Charles Darwin University
deciBel
Emergency Eyewash and Shower Equipment
National Uniform Legislation
Persons Conducting a Business or Undertaking
Personal Protective Equipment
Safety Data Sheet
Work Health and Safety
Relevant Definitions
In the context of this document:
Chemical is defined as any element, chemical compound or mixture of elements and/or compounds
where chemical(s) are distributed. Chemicals may be in solid, liquid, gas or plasma.
Hazard means a situation or thing that has the potential to harm a person. Hazards at work may
include: noisy machinery, a moving forklift, chemicals, electricity, working at heights, a repetitive job,
bullying and violence at the workplace.
Hazardous chemicals are pure chemicals, or chemical mixtures that present an immediate or long
term risk of injury or illness. The risk can be associated with health hazards or physiochemical
hazards (e.g. flammable, corrosive, reactive, radioactive etc.). A hazardous substance can also be a
dangerous good and/or a drug, poison or controlled substance.
Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBU) means the University or other legal entity
operating a business or undertaking. A PCBU may be an individual person or an organisation
conducting a business or undertaking. It is not an individual, unless the person is conducting the
business in his or her own name as a sole trader or partner. Persons engaged solely as a worker or
officer of the business or undertaking are excluded from the definition of PCBU;
Plant relates to and includes any machinery, equipment, appliance, container, implement or tool,
including any component or anything fitted or connected to any of those items. Plant includes items as
diverse as hoists, cranes, computers, machinery, vehicles, power tools, etc. (as per Code of Practice
– Managing risks of plant in the workplace).
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Risk is the possibility that death, injury or illness might occur when exposed to a hazard.
Safety Data Sheet (SDS) is a document prepared by the vendor (manufacturer/importer/supplier) of a
chemical which describes uses, chemical and physical properties, health hazard information,
precautions for use, safe handling and emergency information. It is a legislative requirement for the
vendor to supply a copy of the SDS for each chemical to the end user.
Supervisor means the immediate day to day manager of an individual or group of workers, students
in classes and/or on field trips;
Worker means any person who carries out work in any capacity for the University, including but not
limited to, University’s staff members, contractors, subcontractors and their employees, apprentices or
trainees, students gaining work experience or conducting research, and volunteers;
Workplace means any area or place, including vehicle or vessel, where a worker goes or expected to be,
while performing a business or undertaking for the University.
3.
Health and Safety Responsibilities
3.1
How to manage work health and safety risks
It is the responsibility of all workers to identify any hazards and ensure they are reported to
supervisors or management so that effective controls can be implemented. Employees are
encouraged to attend WHS Risk Management Training and to read the CDU Risk Management
Policy. http://www.cdu.edu.au/governance/policies/pol-036.pdf
This document will provide information relating to:
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3.2
Duty of Care
Duty to identify hazards
Managing risks to health and safety
Hierarchy of control measures
Maintenance of control measures
Review of control measures
Duty of Care
Primary duty of care – Persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) must ensure, so far
as reasonably practicable the health and safety of all persons engaged or influenced by the persons
activities, by eliminating or minimising the exposure to hazards and risks.
Workers and others – while at work, a worker must take reasonable care for their own health and
safety whilst also taking all reasonable measures to ensure that their acts or omissions do not
adversely affect the health and safety of other persons. The worker must comply and cooperate with
any reasonable policy or procedure relating to health or safety at the workplace.
Work Health and Safety Policy http://www.cdu.edu.au/governance/policies/pol-044.pdf
Risk management is about exercising responsibility to ensure workers and the public are properly
protected. The Risk Assessment Form allows you to identify the hazard, then identify and control the
associated risk.
Risk Assessment Form
4.
General
Exposure to dangerous levels of noise can cause permanent hearing loss and tinnitus (ringing of the
ears). The effects of occupational deafness are distressing both physically and socially. They may also
create hazardous situations for workers as they may be unable to hear or misinterpret instructions and
warning signals which can contribute to accidents.
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The noise level in a workplace is dangerous if it exceeds the exposure standard, which refers to an
average noise level of 85 decibels (A- weighted) over an eight hour period, with a maximum peak of
140 decibels (C- weighted).
As part of CDU’s commitment to managing the work environment and facilities, particular workplaces
and activities through consultation have been assessed and determined to be hazardous to workers
hearing. Such areas and activities have had control measures implemented to eliminate or reduce the
exposure rate of workers to excessive noise.
4.1
Workplaces and activities linked to noise and hearing loss
 Workshops and plant rooms - sheet metal workshop, Automotive mechanical and
paint workshops
 Engineering laboratories
 Exposure to or use of plant, machinery and equipment – excavator, lawn mower,
chainsaw, grinders, etc.
 Exposure to certain chemicals and substances (Ototoxic substances)
 Vibration – through use of jack hammers, pneumatic tools, etc.
4.2
Measuring noise levels
Useful noise prediction techniques are available for modelling indoor sound propagation and calculating
noise immission levels.
To measure sound levels, instruments are used which resemble the human ear in sensitivity to varying
frequencies of noise. Types of instruments are listed below:
1) Non-Integrating sound level meter – This will give an instant reading in dB (can be set
to measure in A or C) of noise levels where and when the instrument is switched on.
2) Integrating/Averaging sound level meter – This can give average (LAeq) noise
readings in a particular work area over a day or shift. This type of meter is needed to
measure the total exposure to noise where noise levels fluctuate during the working day.
The most sophisticated averaging sound level meters can print out a ‘noise profile’
showing how the noise levels change over the working day.
3) Personal noise dose meter – This can be fitted to an individual worker with a
microphone placed near the ear. It gives an average noise dose for that particular
worker, over a day or shift. These are useful where workers move around in their jobs,
between noisy and quieter areas.
4.3
Managing noise levels
Noise can be controlled by a risk management approach. Workplaces should have a noise control
program in place to deal with noise problems effectively. The use of control measures, safe work
procedures and technology can assist to remove or reduce noise hazards to a safe working level.
Control measures may include:
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Eliminate or replacement of noisy plant and equipment
Monitoring and reducing noise emissions
Isolating or enclosing noisy plant and equipment
Design and installation of guards
The acoustical treatment of a workplace
Ventilation
The scheduling of work, job rotation
Restricting the access of people to areas with excessive noise.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
http://www.cdu.edu.au/ohrs/policies/documents/PersonalProtectiveEquipmentPPEG
uideJuly2014.docx
Ensure that the control measures implemented are reviewed and remain effective.
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5.
Induction, information, training and supervision
Training should be provided to all workers who may be exposed to hazardous noise or other agents
that may contribute to hearing loss.
Information or instructions should be delivered in a way that is readily understandable by any person to
whom it is provided.
Induction, training and instruction should include:
 Safety and testing procedures
 correct and safe operating of the equipment
 risk management
 wearing and care of PPE
 the tasks at the workplace that have the potential to cause damage to a person’s
hearing
 the purpose and nature of audiometric testing
6.
Signage and placarding
Where personal protective devices are issued and used as a means of limiting exposure, signs
declaring the work area to be a “Hearing Protection Area” are to be visible at all points on the
boundary of the area. Signs shall be compliant with AS 1319 – 1994 (refer to CDU Safety Signage
Guide).
7.
Essential Supporting Information
CDU Policies, Guides or Procedures
Work Health and Safety Policy
Emergency Management Plan
Risk Assessment Form
Risk Management Policy
First Aid Procedures http://www.cdu.edu.au/governance/procedures/pro-018.pdf
First Person on Scene (Accident /Incident) Procedure
http://www.cdu.edu.au/governance/procedures/pro-019.pdf
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Guide
Safety Signage Guide
Workshop safety guide
Workers Rehabilitation and Compensation Guide
Acts & Regulations
Work Health and Safety (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2011
Work Health and Safety (National Uniform Legislation) Regulations
Codes of Practice
How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks
Managing the Work Environment and Facilities
Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss at Work
Australian and New Zealand Standards
AS/NZS 1269.1:2005 – Occupational Noise Management - Measurement and assessment of
noise immission and exposure
AS/NZS 1269.2:2005 - Occupational Noise Management – Noise control management
AS/NZS 1269.3:2005 - Occupational Noise Management – Hearing protector program
AS/NZS 1319:1994 – Safety signs for the occupational environment
AS/NZS 31000:2009 – Risk Management – Principals and guidelines
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Document History and Version Control
Version
Date Approved
Approved by
Brief Description
1
03/10/2014
WHS Manager
Created document
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