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How do I reduce noise?

There are many ways of reducing noise and noise exposure - often a combination of methods works best. First think about how to remove the loud noise altogether. If that is not possible, do all you can to control the noise at source, consider redesigning the workplace and reorganising working patterns. Take measures to protect individual workers if you need to. Consider the following:

  • Use a different, quieter process or quieter equipment, eg:
    • Can you do the work in some other quieter way?
    • Can you replace whatever is causing the noise with something that is less noisy?
    • Introduce a low-noise purchasing policy for machinery and equipment.
  • Introduce engineering controls:
    • Avoid metal-on-metal impacts, eg line chutes with abrasion-resistant rubber, and reduce drop heights.
    • Vibrating machine panels can be a source of noise - add material to reduce vibration ('damping').
    • Isolate vibrating machinery or components from their surroundings, eg with antivibration mounts or flexible couplings.
    • Fit silencers to air exhausts and blowing nozzles.
  • Modify the paths by which the noise travels through the air to the people exposed, eg:
    • Erect enclosures around machines to reduce the amount of noise emitted into the workplace or environment.
    • Use barriers and screens to block the direct path of sound.
    • Position noise sources further away from workers.
  • Design and lay out the workplace for low noise emission, eg:
    • Use absorptive materials within the building to reduce reflected sound, eg open cell foam or mineral wool.
    • Keep noisy machinery and processes away from quieter areas.
    • Design the workflow to keep noisy machinery out of areas where people spend most of their time.
  • Limit the time spent in noisy areas - every halving of the time spent in a noisy area will reduce noise exposure by 3 dB.

Proper and regular maintenance of machinery and equipment is essential as it will deteriorate with age and can become noisier. Listen out for changes in noise levels - it may be time to replace worn or faulty parts.

How to choose quieter equipment and machinery?[46]

Link URLs in this page

  1. Noise at workhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/noise/index.htm
  2. Regulationshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/noise/regulations.htm
  3. Worried about your hearing?https://www.hse.gov.uk/noise/worried.htm
  4. Overview - Worried about your hearing?https://www.hse.gov.uk/noise/worried.htm
  5. Audio demonstrationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/noise/assets/video/index.htm
  6. Overview - Advice for employershttps://www.hse.gov.uk/noise/advice.htm
  7. Employers' responsibilitieshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/noise/employers.htm
  8. How do I assess the risks?https://www.hse.gov.uk/noise/risks.htm
  9. Managing noise risks checklisthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/noise/checklist.htm
  10. Overview - How do I protect my workers?https://www.hse.gov.uk/noise/protect.htm
  11. How do I control the risks from noise?https://www.hse.gov.uk/noise/controlrisks.htm
  12. Use the information from my risk assessment?https://www.hse.gov.uk/noise/useinfo.htm
  13. Reduce noise?https://www.hse.gov.uk/noise/reducenoise.htm
  14. Choose quieter equipment and machinery?https://www.hse.gov.uk/noise/choosequieter.htm
  15. Hearing protectionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/noise/hearingprotection.htm
  16. What do I need to tell my employees?https://www.hse.gov.uk/noise/assets/video/tell-index.htm
  17. Employee and safety representativeshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/noise/safetyrep.htm
  18. Health surveillancehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/noise/healthsurveillance.htm
  19. Advice for manufacturershttps://www.hse.gov.uk/noise/advice-for-manufacturers.htm
  20. Noise calculatorshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/noise/calculator.htm
  21. Key messageshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/noise/keyfacts.htm
  22. Overview - Industry good practicehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/noise/goodpractice/index.htm
  23. Overview - Managing noise riskshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/noise/goodpractice/managingrisks.htm
  24. Over-protectionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/noise/goodpractice/hearingoverprotect.htm
  25. Accounting for 'real-world' factorshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/noise/goodpractice/hearingrealworld.htm
  26. Advice on issuing hearing protectionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/noise/goodpractice/hearingadvice.htm
  27. Workplace designhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/noise/goodpractice/workplacedesign.htm
  28. Plastic productshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/noise/goodpractice/plastics.htm
  29. Overview - Wood workinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/noise/goodpractice/woodworking.htm
  30. Saw millinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/noise/goodpractice/sawmilling.htm
  31. Air turbulencehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/noise/goodpractice/airturbulence.htm
  32. Planing and mouldinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/noise/goodpractice/planingmoulding.htm
  33. Overview - Concrete and cementhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/noise/goodpractice/concrete.htm
  34. General informationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/noise/goodpractice/concretegeninfo.htm
  35. Avoiding impactshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/noise/goodpractice/avoidingimpacts.htm
  36. Music and entertainmenthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/noise/goodpractice/music-and-entertainment.htm
  37. Overview - Case studieshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/noise/casestudies/index.htm
  38. Full indexhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/noise/casestudies/fullindex.htm
  39. Sound solutionshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/noise/casestudies/soundsolutions/index.htm
  40. Overview - Resourceshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/noise/furtherinfo.htm
  41. Publicationshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/noise/publications.htm
  42. Researchhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/noise/research.htm
  43. Statisticshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/noise/statistics.htm
  44. Overview - Policy statementshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/noise/policy.htm
  45. Acoustic shockhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/noise/acoustic.htm
  46. How to choose quieter equipment and machinery?https://www.hse.gov.uk/noise/choosequieter.htm
  47. Noise calculatorshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/noise/calculator.htm
  48. Noise: Don't lose your hearing https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg363.htm
  49. Noise at work: A brief guide to controlling the riskshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg362.htm
  50. Hearing loss - what's it like?https://www.hse.gov.uk/noise/assets/video/index.htm

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Updated 2021-05-24