Noise and vibration – Protect

Once you have put controls in place, make sure workers remain protected from any remaining risk.

Where exposure to noise or vibration cannot be eliminated or adequately reduced, you may need to provide personal protective equipment (PPE), health surveillance and appropriate training.

Health surveillance

Health surveillance helps identify early signs of work-related ill health and can indicate whether your controls are working effectively.

It can help identify health issues at an early stage, detect whether workers are being affected by exposure, and enable action to be taken before conditions become more serious.

Health surveillance should complement your risk assessment and control measures, not replace them.

Noise health surveillance is required where:

• exposure is above the upper exposure action value
• exposure is between the lower and upper exposure action values and the worker is at increased risk

Providing hearing protection does not remove this requirement.

Hand-arm vibration health surveillance is required where:

• workers are regularly exposed above the exposure action value
• your assessment identifies a risk to workers’ health

Hearing protection

Where hearing protection is required, workers should understand when it should be worn and how to use it correctly.

Use the CUFF approach

• C – Condition: equipment is in good condition
• U – Use: worn correctly and whenever required
• F – Fit the ear: secure and comfortable
• F – Fit for purpose: appropriate for the noise level and task

Watch our short video explaining the CUFF approach:

Information, instruction and training

Workers should understand the risks from noise and vibration exposure, the controls you have put in place, and how to use equipment correctly. They should also know when personal protective equipment is required and how to report concerns or symptoms.

Providing clear information, instruction and training helps ensure controls remain effective and workers are properly protected.