Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005
The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 (the Noise Regulations) came into force for all industry sectors in Great Britain on 6 April 2006 (except for the music and entertainment sectors where they came into force on 6 April 2008).
The aim of the Noise Regulations is to ensure that workers' hearing is protected from excessive noise at their place of work, which could cause them to lose their hearing and/or to suffer from tinnitus (permanent ringing in the ears). The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 replace the Noise at Work Regulations 1989.
The changes included:
- Reducing the exposure levels by 5dB - the "trigger levels" for action were reduced to a lower exposure action level of 80dB, the upper exposure action level of 85dB, with an exposure limit of 87dB on personal noise exposure;
- The exposure limit allows hearing protection to be taken into account where noise exposure varies from day to day, it may be averaged over a week (rather than eight hours);
- An employer who carries out work which is liable to expose any employees to noise at or above a lower exposure action value shall make a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risk from that noise to the health and safety of those employees, and the risk assessment shall identify the measures which need to be taken to meet the requirements of the regulationshealth surveillance is required where the risk assessment shows there is a risk to healthsuitable and sufficient training should be provided for employees.
Noise Risk Assessments
Where the daily personal noise exposure is likely to be 80dB(A) or above, a noise risk assessment of noise exposure is to be completed by a "competent person". As a rough guide, a noise assessment is generally required if the employee;
- is surrounded by intrusive noise for most of the working day;
- has to raise his/her voice to be heard by someone just two metres away, for at least part of the day;
- uses noisy powered tools or machinery for more than 30 minutes each day;
- works in construction, road repair, engineering or manufacturing;
- causes impacts such as hammering, drop forging, pneumatic impact tolls etc;
- works with explosive sources such as cartridge operated tools, detonators or guns.
Assessments should include sufficient information on both noise levels and work patterns to enable employers to identify whatever action is necessary to reduce exposure and the number of employees affected by it.
Affected employees must be informed and hearing protection provided (at no cost to the employee) if requested.Should employees be likely to be exposed to noise averaging 85dB or more, the employer is required to reduce either the level of the noise or the time the employee is exposed to it. This may be achieved through:
- job rotation;
- constructing noise refuges around machine control areas;
- boxing in noisy machines;
- changing machines and working methods;
- placing noisy machines together in a single, sound controlled area;
- fitting silencers to all exhausts.
If it is not possible or practical to reduce the average noise level (averaged over a week) in any work area to below 85dB, the area must be marked with appropriate signs and no-one must enter the area unless wearing hearing protection.
Once completed, suitable records should be kept. These records should be reviewed either when there has been a significant change in the work to which the assessment relates, or whenever there is reason to believe that the assessment is no longer valid.
Instruction and training
Employers have a legal obligation to provide information, instruction and training to employees concerning occupational deafness. This should include guidance on:
- risks of damage to hearing that exposure may cause;
- possible actions to minimise such risk;
- steps to be taken by employees in order to obtain personal ear protection and;
- employees' obligations under the regulations.
Further advice
Additional guidance, available free from the HSE, includes advice and information on the legal duty, how to assess and control noise, how to choose quieter equipment and machinery, different methods of hearing protection and health surveillance. There is also guidance for employees about the risks of exposure to noise, information on when and how to wear protective equipment and how to look after it.
CHAS, Constructionline and SafeContractor (SSIP) Applications
If you are not registered with the relevent SSIP such as CHAS, Constructionline or SafeContractor, you may find that certain clients and local authority frameworks will exclude you from their approved contractors and tender lists altogether.
We can help with your CHAS, Constructionline and SafeContractor applications. Prices start from only £349.00.
What can we do to help?
CHAS, Constructionline and SafeContractor are the main SSIP Health and Safety Pre-Qualification schemes used by many organisations to select which contractors are invited to tender for their work. However, for many businesses, these pre-qualification scheme applications can be a daunting and time consuming prospect.
Our Health and Safety Consultants will complete your CHAS, Constructionline and SafeContractor pre-qualification application to help you to become registered quickly and to let you get on with what you do best.
Our service will include:
- Full unlimited support through the Health and Safety assessment process until you have been approved
- We will act as your external safety advisor for 12 months
- We will help you to create all the documents and supporting evidence required – H&S policy, risk assessments, method statements, safe systems of work, CoSHH risk assessments, contractor management, toolbox talk training etc
Unlike other organisations providing a similar service, all applications for assessment will be completed by our own Health and Safety experts with ongoing safety support throughout the process until your application has been accepted.
CHAS, Constructionline and SafeContractor Applications can also be covered as part of our Membership Scheme.
Fees from £349.00
CHAS:
- 1 - 4 employees - from £349.00
- 5 and over employees - from £499.00
Constructionline/Acclaim:
- 1 - 4 employees - from £349.00
- 5 and over employees - from £499.00
Safe Contractor:
- 1 - 4 employees - from £349.00
- 5 and over employees - from £499.00
Please contact us for a bespoke fixed fee cost.
Our prices cover all time spent dealing with and submitting your application. No additional charges are payable*.
*Please note that applications and final approval may take several attempts. There are NO additional charges for resubmitting applications. Should you require specific safety training courses (ie Asbestos Awareness) then this may incur a charge by a third party training provider. Our costs do not include the initial SSIP CHAS, Constructionline/Acclaim or SafeContractor registration fee.
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Fire Safety Frequently Asked Questions
Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 frequently asked questions.
1. Where does the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 legislation apply?
The Regulatory Reform FSO will apply to virtually all premises and covers nearly every type of building, structure, and open space. For example:
- offices and shops
- premises that provide care
- community halls
- common areas of houses in multiple occupation
- pubs, clubs and restaurants
- schools
- tents and marquees
- hotels and hostels
- factories and warehouses.
It excludes domestic premises occupied by a single family group.
Responsibility for complying with the Order rests with the ‘responsible person’. In a workplace, this is the employer and any other person who may have control of any part of the premises, e.g. the occupier or owner.
In all other premises the person or people in control of the premises will be responsible. If there is more than one responsible person in any type of premises (e.g. a multi-occupied complex), all must take all reasonable steps to co-operate and co-ordinate with each other.
2. What will I have to do?
Mainly, carry out a fire risk assessment and act on the findings. A fire risk assessment will help you identify risks that can be reduced and to decide the nature of the general fire precautions you need to take to protect people against the fire risks that remain. If you employ five or more people you must record your risk assessment and any significant findings.
3. What is a fire risk assessment?
Employers and self-employed people must carry out, or appoint a competent person to carry out a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment of the risks of fire to their employees and others who may be affected by their work or business. Those who employ five or more employees must keep a formal record of any significant findings and remedial measures which have, or may need to be, taken The competent person or fire risk assessor need not possess any specific academic qualifications but should:
- understand the relevant fire safety legislation;
- have appropriate education, training, knowledge and experience in the principles of fire safety;
- have an understanding of fire development and the behaviour of people in fire;
- understand the fire hazards, fire risks and relevant factors associated with occupants at special risk within the buildings of the type in question, and
- have appropriate training and/or experience in carrying out fire risk assessment.
4. Do I need to undertake a fire risk assessment?
Yes. The fire safety law affects all non-domestic premises in England and Wales. You are responsible for complying with this law if you are:
- responsible for business premises
- an employer
- self-employed with business premises
- a charity or voluntary organisation
- a contractor with a degree of control over any premises.
5. I have no experience of making a fire safety risk assessment, what should I do?
If you are not confident to be able to undertake your own Fire Safety Risk Assessment, get help from a competent source. Remember you must be confident and competent to undertake this type of risk assessment. If in doubt always ask for advice.
6. Do I only need to consider the safety of employees, when undertaking a risk assessment?
You will have to take into account any person reporting to your premises, such as:
- contractors
- professional visitors,
- members of the public
- any other persons who may be affected by your activities
7. Will the Fire and Rescue Service still inspect my premises?
In some cases yes, particularly in higher risk premises. But they cannot carry out your fire risk assessment for you.
8. Should I wait for the Fire Officer to visit and identify any actions required?
No. You will need to prepare a fire risk assessment and emergency plan yourself or seek advice from an external competent source.
If you are an employer and have five or more employees, the findings of the risk assessment must be recorded. The risk assessment must cover both employees and any other relevant person. This may include employees of other employers, as well as visitors, contractors etc. An inspecting officer will expect to see your risk assessment and emergency plan when an inspection is carried out.
9. Who is the ‘responsible person’?
In a workplace, this is the employer and any other person who may have control of any part of the premises, for example, the occupier or owner.
In all other premises the person or people in control of the premises will be responsible. If there is more than one responsible person in any type of premises, all must take all reasonable steps to work with each other.
10. What will a fire risk assessment cost?
| Type of Building | *Approx. Cost |
| Offices and shops | £250.00 |
| Premises that provide care | £750.00 |
| Community halls | £300.00 |
| Common areas of houses in multiple occupation | £200.00 |
| Pubs, clubs and restaurants | £500.00 |
| Schools | from £900.00 |
| Hotels and hostels | £500.00 |
| Factories and warehouses. | From £500.00 |
*specific site information will be required before a fixed cost can be given.
11. What fire safety training should I give to my staff?
It is the responsibility of employers to ensure that their staff are adequately trained on what to do in the event of fire.
Training should be given upon induction and preferably a second time within the first month of employment. Refresher training should be given at least once a year. Training should be undertaken by a competent person and a record kept in some form of logbook Fire Safety Training can be carried out in house, or by a reputable company.
Fire instruction should be given to staff in respect of the following:
- Discovering a fire
- Hearing the fire alarm
- Assembly points
- Calling the Fire and Rescue Service
- Use of fire extinguishers
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Health and Safety Management Systems
Most organisations recognise that Health and Safety Management Systems are just as important as the management of Marketing, Sales, Finance and Accounting, Logistics, Quality Systems, Human Resources and Manufacturing.
The best organisations recognise the link between the identification and control of risk, the general health of their staff, and the success of their business. On that basis, they build Health and Safety Management Systems that are as integral to their organisation as any other business process.
What will we do to help?
Bradley Environmental are specialists in the design and implementation of bespoke Health and Safety Management Systems.
Your Management System should contain:
- Your Health and Safety Policy
- Arrangements and organisation for manageing safety in the workplace
- Evidence of Health and Safety Audits, Inspections and Action Plans
- All of your Risk Assessments and Reviews
- Your plan for implementing controls
- Evidence of Staff Training
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Fire Safety Risk Assessment
Our fully trained and experienced Fire Safety Assessors can carry out your Fire Safety Risk Assessments and Fire Safety Reviews anywhere across the UK.
As the responsible person you must carry out and regularly review a Fire Risk Assessment of the premises. However, for buildings of any size or complexity, it is best to employ a professional Fire Risk Assessor to carry the assessment out. This will identify what you need to do to prevent fire and keep people safe. The assessment must be suitable and sufficient as required by the Fire Service Officers who enforce the law.
What can we do to help?
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, Section 9, requires all businesses to regularly carry out suitable and sufficient Fire Risk Assessments.
At Bradley Environmental, we can provide Fire Risk Assessments to non-domestic premises in compliance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, section 9.
This is the process of evaluating factors that determine fire hazard, the likelihood of fire and the consequences if a fire were to occur.
For businesses employing five or more employees, there is a legal requirement to not only carry out a fire risk assessment, but to document the findings in writing.
We offer:
- A detailed Fire Risk Assessment of your property
- Easy to understand priority action plan
- Full support from a specialist Fire Safety Risk Assessor
- Fixed fee, no hidden cost
- Fast turnaround on visits and reports
Benefit to you
All our Fire Risk Assessors are experienced, fully qualified and certified from various accredited bodies.
Our Fire Safety Risk Assessors have extensive experience in a wide range premises such as warehouse’s and industrial units, retail premises and shopping centres, offices, garages, hotels, care homes, colleges and schools, blocks of flats and pubs, clubs and restaurants.
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For more information on the services we provide, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or use the Contact Us box below.
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Click for Fire Risk Assessment FAQ's
- Where does the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 legislation apply?
- What will I have to do?
- What is a fire safety risk assessment?
- Do I need to undertake a fire safety risk assessment?
- I have no experience of making a fire safety risk assessment, where can I find some guidance?
- Do I only need to consider the safety of employees, when undertaking a fire safety risk assessment?
- Will the Fire and Rescue Service still inspect my premises?
- Should I wait for the Fire Officer to visit and identify any action required?
- Who is the ‘responsible person’?
- What will a fire risk assessment cost?
- What fire safety training should I give to my staff?
