Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L00426:front:0:p3
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L00426
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 6407–9221

to noise and how to control health and safety risks arising from hazardous noise.
Although the WHS Regulations for noise are limited to managing the risks of hearing loss, the duties in the WHS Act extend to all health and safety risks arising from the conduct of a business or undertaking and therefore this Code also includes information about other agents that may contribute to hearing loss in Appendix A.

How to use this Code of Practice
In providing guidance, the word 'should' is used in this Code to indicate a recommended course of action, while 'may' is used to indicate an optional course of action.
This Code also includes various references to sections of the WHS Act and Regulations which set out the legal requirements. These references are not exhaustive. The words 'must', 'requires' or 'mandatory' indicate that a legal requirement exists and must be complied with.

1. INTRODUCTION

Hazardous noise can destroy the ability to hear clearly and can also make it more difficult to hear sounds necessary for working safely, such as instructions or warning signals.
Managing the risks related to noise will assist in:

    * protecting workers from hearing loss and disabling tinnitus (ringing in the ears or head)
    * improving the conditions for communication and hearing warning sounds
    * creating a less stressful and more productive work environment.

1.1         Who has health and safety duties in relation to noise?
A person conducting a business or undertaking has the primary duty under the WHS Act to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that workers and other persons are not exposed to health and safety risks arising from the business or undertaking.
A person conducting a business or undertaking has more specific obligations under the WHS Regulations to manage the risks of hearing loss associated with noise at the workplace, including:

    * ensuring that the noise a worker is exposed to at the workplace does not exceed the exposure standard for noise
    * providing audiometric testing to a worker who is frequently required to use personal hearing protectors to protect the worker from hearing loss associated with noise that exceeds the exposure standard.
Designers, manufacturers, suppliers, importers and installers of plant or structures that could be used for work must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that the plant or structure is without risks to health and safety. Designers and manufacturers of plant must ensure the plant is designed and manufactured so that its noise emission is as low as reasonably practicable.
Designers, manufacturers, suppliers and importers must also provide information about the noise emission values of the plant and any conditions necessary for minimising the risk of hearing loss and other harm (see Chapter