Environmental Site Services noise officers have been approved by the Resources Safety Division State Mining Engineer as competent to carry out noise assessments to AS/NZS 1269.1.

For information on your legal obligations, see the Occupational Safety and Health Regulations 1996, regulation numbers, 3.1, 3.45, 3.46 and 3.47 and the Noise Identification and Assessment section of the Code of Practice for Managing Noise at Workplaces.

Environmental Site Services delivers occupational workplace noise monitoring and testing to meet compliance under Western Australian Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984, Occupational Safety and Health Regulations 1996, Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994 and Mines Safety and Inspection Regulations 1995 and NOPSEMA requirements.

Our Department of Mines and Petroleum and WorkSafe approved noise officers will provide:

• A Detailed Occupational Noise Survey conducted in accordance with Australian Standards and Codes of Practice.(AS/NZS 1269 : 2005, Occupational noise management and assessment of noise emission and exposure and Code of Practice for Managing Noise at Workplaces, 2002.
• Identification of significant noise sources and workers likely to be exposed to noise above specified levels (noise exposure standards)
• Delineation of compulsory hearing protection areas
• Selection of appropriate personal hearing protectors in accordance with AS 1269.3Guidance on correct hearing protection labelling/signage to meet regulatory audits
• Provision of advice on engineering controls and modification of working environments to reduce noise exposure

Our further capabilities include:

• Preliminary noise surveys
• Equipment noise compliance testing
• Audiometric booth calibrationWorkplace noise management plans to meet specific site requirements
• Provision of “Tool Box” presentations on proper use of hearing protectors
• Provision or Department of Mines and Petroleum Noise Officers for your mine site
• Information on “Buy Quiet”
• Development of a Noise Policy for your site

Environmental Site Services will help you meet all of your obligations to protect your workers from noise induced hearing loss.

Noise in the workplace is the major cause of hearing loss in Western Australia. Noise induced hearing loss can neither be reversed nor cured with sufferers often facing social isolation from communication difficulties.

Excessive noise in the workplace can also cause immediate problems including stress, high blood pressure, and sleep problems. Noise also presents a safety hazard as noise can interfere with communication, act as a distraction, and make warning alarms harder to hear.

The Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984 require the employer to provide as far as practicable a safe working environment and not expose employees to hazards. The Occupational Safety and Health Regulations 1996 states that persons in control of a workplace must not (as far as practicable) expose employees to noise exceeding exposure standards.

The Code of Practice for Managing Noise at Work places 2002 states that noise assessments are to be conducted where a noise hazard is identified and at intervals of 5 years from the initial survey or when there is a significant change in the work process, equipment, working area or shift arrangements.

Significant changes in in work areas which will change worker noise exposure include:

• Installation or removal of equipment
• Changes in workload of the equipment
• Modification of the building structure
• Changes in working arrangements where personnel may spend more time in noisy work areas/completing noisy tasks

Under Western Australian regulations the occupational exposure standard (action level) for workers not wearing hearing protection is:

a) 85 dB(A) averaged over an 8 hour period for noise exposure or

b) 140 dB(C) for peak noise or 140 dB(lin) peak noise for mine sites

Where employees are exposed to levels above the exposure standards it is a requirement under the regulations that hearing protection is provided and selected in accordance with AS/NZS 1269.3 and comply with AS 1270.

Workplaces with an 8 hour personal noise dose of 90 dB or equivalent; or one or more peak noise exposures of 140 dB or over are defined as a prescribed workplace and The Workers Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 1981 makes it compulsory for employers to arrange and pay for baseline WorkCover WA audiometric hearing tests. The tests must be completed within 12 months of commencing of employment (90 dB is equal to standing approximately one metre from an idling truck).