Noise survey

What it contains

A survey for your employees and health and safety representatives (HSRs) to identify noise hazards in the workplace.

Work involving noise hazards can cause injury known as noise-induced hearing loss or deafness. The potential for noise to be hazardous is not always obvious.

The Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017 (Vic) (OHS Regulations) set out the noise exposure standard, and if employees are exposed to noise that exceeds the noise exposure standard, the workplace is too noisy.

The OHS Regulations outlines that noise exposure standard means:

1. the 8-hour equivalent continuous sound pressure level of 85 decibels (A) measured in A-weighted decibels referenced to 20 micropascals at an employee’s ear position; or
2. the C-weighted peak hold sound pressure level reading of 140 decibels (C) measured in decibels referenced to 20 micropascals at an employee’s ear position

Noise induced hearing loss can occur suddenly following very loud noise exposure but is most commonly due to exposure to loud noise over a long period of time. Signs of discomfort experienced during and after work tasks may be an early warning sign.

The Compliance Code: Noise contains additional information to support this tool.