Protecting Employees by Mitigating Workplace Noise

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Environmental ConsultingEnvironmental Consulting

Industry

Corporate Offices

Location

Ireland

AWN applied acoustic expertise to measure and control workplace noise, combining site surveys, heat mapping, and targeted mitigation strategies to protect employee hearing, maintain productivity, and ensure regulatory compliance.

Challenge

Occupational noise hazards pose serious risks to employee hearing and productivity while also being legally regulated under workplace noise laws. Workplaces exceeding 80 dB(A) require a risk assessment under the General Application Regulations 2007, Chapter 1 of Part 5: Control Of Noise at Work. AWN was tasked with identifying noise sources, assessing exposure for all staff categories—including mobile employees with complex shift patterns—and developing mitigation strategies to minimize risk.

Solutions

We conduct on-site noise surveys in all types of workplaces including those which have highly mobile staff with complex work-shift patterns and exposures, resulting in a calculation of personal daily noise exposure levels for each category of employee. We can produce noise heat maps to clearly identify which area of your workplace are in excess of the regulatory requirements and require immediate mitigation. However, mitigating workplace noise requires a multifaceted approach to safeguard employees’ hearing and productivity. While hearing protection devices (HPD) such as earplugs and earmuffs may be required as a temporary measure, relying solely on them has limitations and associated costs for companies. These measures, though cost-effective initially, may lead to long-term financial and operational challenges if used without complementary strategies.

HPDs protect individual workers but do not address the root cause of noise. Over time, improper or inconsistent use can result in occupational hearing loss, leading to potential legal liabilities, increased worker compensation claims, and higher insurance premiums. Additionally, prolonged use of HPDs may cause discomfort, reducing compliance and productivity. Employees wearing HPDs may experience communication barriers, increasing the risk of accidents and errors, especially in environments requiring clear auditory signals.

Services Performed

AWN applied acoustic expertise to assess and control occupational noise. Key activities included site noise surveys, noise mapping, exposure assessment, and the design of mitigation strategies integrating engineering, administrative, and hearing protection measures.

Results

Due to our acoustic expertise, we go further than solely identifying if the exposure action values/limits are exceeded and what actions are legally required to reduce the daily noise exposure. AWN use targeted control measures to reduce the risk so far is as reasonably practical with the selection of hearing protection as a last resort. Effective control measures may include engineering controls, like installing noise barriers around noisy plant items or positioning acoustic panels with specific absorption coefficients. Administrative controls, such as rotating workers and limiting exposure times may be essential. Implementing quiet zones and scheduling noisy tasks during off-peak hours can also further reduce risks. AWN can calculate the potential reduction in noise from these proposed changes long before a client incurs any retrofitting costs.

If hearing protection is required, we will tailor the selection of hearing protection to the frequency of noise in your work environment. AWN can help your business by combining HPDs with engineering and administrative controls, to achieve a safer, more productive workplace while minimising long-term costs and liabilities associated with occupational noise exposure