Warranty

7-Year Warranty

We focus on customer care, providing great support, advice and assistance.

5 stars

Rated 5 Stars

Pulsar Instruments are highly recommended and trusted by our customers.

Fast Delivery

Free UK Shipping

Free next-day despatch on all orders placed before 12 pm.

Secure Checkout

Secure Payment

Pay for your goods via our secure payment server, with a Credit or Debit card.

50 years in business

50+ Years in Business

We’re recognised and trusted noise measurement experts – Since 1969.

How to monitor whether workers are exposed to excessive noise levels

Sound control advice

How to monitor whether workers are exposed to excessive noise levels

By: Admin


Many workers are still exposed to excessive noise levels – take action on noise today

Excessive noise is a real risk to workers’ hearing and is one of the most common occupational health issues. 

Depending on the industry or the duties they carry out, workers can be exposed to loud sudden or steady long-term noise. In the UK, employers are required to prevent or reduce risks to health and safety from exposure to noise at work under The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 (Noise Regulations 2005).

Assessing which workers are at risk or exposed to noise hazards

Current legislation requires employers to monitor exposure to noise in the workplace and identify which employees are at risk or exposed to excessive noise. Any area where workers are exposed to noise levels at or above 85dB over an 8 hour period or an 8 hour time weighted average (TWA) need checking carefully.  And all noise types need to be considered: impulsive, intermittent and continuous noise within an 80dB to 137dB range.  

Taking action to reduce the noise exposure that produces those risks

Safety Officers and other occupational professionals need to carry out tests or noise assessments again if any changes are introduced within the organisation such as new machinery.  They need to implement regular hearing tests to check that workers’ hearing has not changed or is not being damaged. With the help of a reputable and compliant sound level meter, whoever has the responsibility of staff safety need to monitor the TWA over time, identify which employees need hearing protection and, if the noise exposure cannot be reduced enough by using other methods, implement a hearing protection programme.  (Examples of this can be the provision of ear plugs or ear muffs).

Ensuring the legal limits on noise exposure are not exceeded

Safety professionals should take into account the levels of exposure to noise of employees averaged over a working day or week, and the maximum noise (peak sound pressure) to which employees are exposed in a typical working day.

Currently, the lower exposure action values are:

  • daily or weekly exposure of 80dB,
  • peak sound pressure of 135dB

And the upper exposure action values are:

  • daily or weekly exposure of 85dB,
  • peak sound pressure of 137dB

Providing information, instruction and training for staff

Anybody operating in a work environment of TWA of 85dB and above needs to receive annual training on the danger of excessive noise levels and the potential harm these can do to their hearing.

Carrying out a health monitoring programme where there is a risk to health

This should be implemented early on before staff are exposed to noise preferably (e.g. for new employees or those changing jobs), to provide a baseline. Such a programme includes the provision of hearing checks, using the results to review controls; communicating employees their hearing check results; keeping records, ensuring that employees are seen by a doctor where hearing damage has been identified.

Don’t get caught out, minimise the risk of hearing damage at work.  Take action on noise today with Pulsar Instruments plc.

About Pulsar Instruments plc

Pulsar Instruments plc offer compliant, common-sense and practical solutions to meet industrial, occupational, environmental and other noise measurement applications.

The Yorkshire-based company prides itself on the quality of its instruments and also their dynamic range of cost-effective sound level meters, noise dosimeters and noise-activated warning signs, which offer the ideal solution for noise at work, environmental and general noise measurements.

The range of high-performance instruments offered by Pulsar Instruments will appeal to users requiring affordable and simple to use hand-held meters whilst complying with UK, EU and international standards.  

The company also offers noise awareness and practical training for safety professionals seeking to find out more about noise control in the workplace and the most efficient way to monitor it to achieve compliance.

For further information on the Pulsar range of noise monitoring products, training courses and current special offers, please contact the Pulsar sales team on 01723 518011 or visit the website www.pulsarinstruments.com

Introducing the Pulsar vB² Human Vibration Meter

Featured Products


Related news stories

Noise Assessment Kits for Safety Professionals
Noise Assessment Kits for Safety Professionals

21st Mar 2009

Pulsar Instruments are pleased to announce the introduction of their New Noise Assessment Kits for Safety Professionals that give the Health & Safety professional a custom-made solution for resolving their…

Read full story

No-nonsense solutions for noise at work measurements
No-nonsense solutions for noise at work measurements

25th Mar 2009

The Pulsar Assessor range This year Pulsar Instruments Plc celebrates 40 years in the noise instrumentation business. We continue to provide effective, common sense and easy to use solutions for…

Read full story

NEW Pulsar Acoustic Toolbox Software
NEW Pulsar Acoustic Toolbox Software

30th Mar 2009

Software supplied as standard with all Model 33 and Model 30 Real-Time Sound Level Meters Pulsar Instruments Plc have added to the already impressive capabilities of the Model 33 Real-Time…

Read full story