Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L00426:reg:0:p1
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L00426
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 0 (pt 1/20)
Character Range: 24811–27552

0                          Hearing threshold

3.2 What happens next?
In consultation with your workers and health and safety representatives, make a list of all noisy activities that may pose a risk to the health and safety of persons at the workplace. If you have answered 'yes' to any of the questions in Appendix B, it is likely that your workers are being exposed to hazardous noise. If you are unsure about the level of exposure or how to eliminate or minimise the risks effectively, you should take the next step to assess the risks of hearing loss.

4. HOW TO ASSESS THE RISKS

4.1 When should a risk assessment be conducted?
If you have identified any noisy activities that may expose your workers or other people at your workplace to hazardous noise then, unless you can reduce the exposures to below the standard immediately, you should assess the risks by carrying out a noise assessment.

A noise assessment will help you:
    * identify which workers are at risk of hearing loss
    * determine what noise sources and processes are causing that risk
    * identify if and what kind of noise control measures could be implemented
    * check the effectiveness of existing control measures.
A noise assessment may not always need measurement. For example, if only one activity at the workplace – the use of a single machine – involves noise above 85 dB(A) and the manufacturer has provided information about the machine's noise levels when it is operated in particular ways, then a sufficient assessment can be made without measurement. More complex situations may require measurement to accurately determine a worker's exposure to noise, such as workplaces with variable noise levels over a shift and jobs where workers move in and out of noisy areas.

4.2 Who can do a noise assessment?
A noise assessment should be done by a competent person in accordance with the procedures in AS/NZS 1269.1 Measurement and assessment of noise immission and exposure. The more complex the situation, the more knowledgeable and experienced the person needs to be.
A competent person is one who has accurately calibrated noise measuring instruments and, through training and experience:
    * understands what is required by the WHS Regulations for noise
    * knows how to check the performance of the instruments
    * knows how to take the measurements properly
    * can interpret the results of the noise measurements.

4.3 How should a noise assessment be done?
The way a noise assessment is done will depend upon:
    * the type of workplace
    * the number of persons potentially at risk from exposure to hazardous noise
    * the information already available on noise at the workplace.
A noise assessment should be done during a