In recent years there have been major steps taken in the way that employers must protect their employees from excessive exposure to noise in the workplace, the largest being the introduction of the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005.

The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 stipulates certain requirements that an employer (and employee) should follow in order to reduce noise exposure in the workplace.

Requirements that employers must follow include the responsibility to:

• Assess the risks to employees from noise at work;
• Take action to reduce the noise exposure that produces those risks;
• Provide employees with hearing protection if noise reduction cannot be achieved through other methods;
• Make sure the legal limits on noise exposure are not exceeded;
• Provide employees with information, instruction and training;
• Carry out health surveillance where there is a risk to health.