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Noise Management Guide

All guides are intended to give further details to information contained in a particular piece of legislation, policy, code, agreement or procedure and must therefore be read in conjunction with them.

INTRODUCTION

To meet the requirements of the Workplace Health & Safety (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2011 and Regulations and the CDU Work Health & Safety (WHS) Policy.

This Guide is to provide information to all workers and students working in workplaces or involved in activities where exposure to continuous or excessive noise may cause damage to worker’s hearing or impede the ability to hear instructions and warnings whilst at work.

It is to be used in addition to, and not as a substitute for, general safety principles applicable to all types of workshops, laboratories, research, teaching and operational activities.

0275032cba1a5c3320033bf83f9fd205.docxVersion 1 Contact Officer: WHS Consultant Page 1 of 6 Abbreviations AS/NZS Australian/New Zealand Standard CDU Charles Darwin University dB deciBel EEASE Emergency Eyewash and Shower Equipment NUL National Uniform Legislation PCBU Persons Conducting a Business or Undertaking PPE Personal Protective Equipment SDS Safety Data Sheet WHS Work Health and Safety

Relevant Definitions

In the context of this document:

Chemical is defined as any element, chemical compound or mixture of elements and/or compounds where chemical(s) are distributed. Chemicals may be in solid, liquid, gas or plasma.

Hazard means a situation or thing that has the potential to harm a person. Hazards at work may include: noisy machinery, a moving forklift, chemicals, electricity, working at heights, a repetitive job, bullying and violence at the workplace.

Hazardous chemicals are pure chemicals, or chemical mixtures that present an immediate or long term risk of injury or illness. The risk can be associated with health hazards or physiochemical hazards (e.g. flammable, corrosive, reactive, radioactive etc.). A hazardous substance can also be a dangerous good and/or a drug, poison or controlled substance.

Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBU) means the University or other legal entity operating a business or undertaking. A PCBU may be an individual person or an organisation conducting a business or undertaking. It is not an individual, unless the person is conducting the business in his or her own name as a sole trader or partner. Persons engaged solely as a worker or officer of the business or undertaking are excluded from the definition of PCBU;

Plant relates to and includes any machinery, equipment, appliance, container, implement or tool, including any component or anything fitted or connected to any of those items. Plant includes items as diverse as hoists, cranes, computers, machinery, vehicles, power tools, etc. (as per Code of Practice – Managing risks of plant in the workplace).

Risk is the possibility that death, injury or illness might occur when exposed to a hazard.

Safety Data Sheet (SDS) is a document prepared by the vendor (manufacturer/importer/supplier) of a chemical which describes uses, chemical and physical properties, health hazard information, precautions for use, safe handling and emergency information. It is a legislative requirement for the vendor to supply a copy of the SDS for each chemical to the end user.

Supervisor means the immediate day to day manager of an individual or group of workers, students in classes and/or on field trips;

0275032cba1a5c3320033bf83f9fd205.docxVersion 1 Contact Officer: WHS Consultant Page 2 of 6 Worker means any person who carries out work in any capacity for the University, including but not limited to, University’s staff members, contractors, subcontractors and their employees, apprentices or trainees, students gaining work experience or conducting research, and volunteers;

Workplace means any area or place, including vehicle or vessel, where a worker goes or expected to be, while performing a business or undertaking for the University.

Health and Safety Responsibilities

3.1 How to manage work health and safety risks

It is the responsibility of all workers to identify any hazards and ensure they are reported to supervisors or management so that effective controls can be implemented. Employees are encouraged to attend WHS Risk Management Training and to read the CDU Risk Management Policy. http://www.cdu.edu.au/governance/policies/pol-036.pdf

This document will provide information relating to:

 Duty of Care  Duty to identify hazards  Managing risks to health and safety  Hierarchy of control measures  Maintenance of control measures  Review of control measures

3.2 Duty of Care

Primary duty of care – Persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) must ensure, so far as reasonably practicable the health and safety of all persons engaged or influenced by the persons activities, by eliminating or minimising the exposure to hazards and risks.

Workers and others – while at work, a worker must take reasonable care for their own health and safety whilst also taking all reasonable measures to ensure that their acts or omissions do not adversely affect the health and safety of other persons. The worker must comply and cooperate with any reasonable policy or procedure relating to health or safety at the workplace.

Work Health and Safety Policy http://www.cdu.edu.au/governance/policies/pol-044.pdf

Risk management is about exercising responsibility to ensure workers and the public are properly protected. The Risk Assessment Form allows you to identify the hazard, then identify and control the associated risk. Risk Assessment Form

General

Exposure to dangerous levels of noise can cause permanent hearing loss and tinnitus (ringing of the ears). The effects of occupational deafness are distressing both physically and socially. They may also create hazardous situations for workers as they may be unable to hear or misinterpret instructions and warning signals which can contribute to accidents.

The noise level in a workplace is dangerous if it exceeds the exposure standard, which refers to an average noise level of 85 decibels (A- weighted) over an eight hour period, with a maximum peak of 140 decibels (C- weighted).

As part of CDU’s commitment to managing the work environment and facilities, particular workplaces and activities through consultation have been assessed and determined to be hazardous to workers hearing. Such areas and activities have had control measures implemented to eliminate or reduce the exposure rate of workers to excessive noise.

0275032cba1a5c3320033bf83f9fd205.docxVersion 1 Contact Officer: WHS Consultant Page 3 of 6 4.1 Workplaces and activities linked to noise and hearing loss  Workshops and plant rooms - sheet metal workshop, Automotive mechanical and paint workshops  Engineering laboratories  Exposure to or use of plant, machinery and equipment – excavator, lawn mower, chainsaw, grinders, etc.  Exposure to certain chemicals and substances (Ototoxic substances)  Vibration – through use of jack hammers, pneumatic tools, etc.

4.2 Measuring noise levels

Useful noise prediction techniques are available for modelling indoor sound propagation and calculating noise immission levels.

To measure sound levels, instruments are used which resemble the human ear in sensitivity to varying frequencies of noise. Types of instruments are listed below:

1) Non-Integrating sound level meter – This will give an instant reading in dB (can be set to measure in A or C) of noise levels where and when the instrument is switched on.

2) Integrating/Averaging sound level meter – This can give average (LAeq) noise readings in a particular work area over a day or shift. This type of meter is needed to measure the total exposure to noise where noise levels fluctuate during the working day. The most sophisticated averaging sound level meters can print out a ‘noise profile’ showing how the noise levels change over the working day.

3) Personal noise dose meter – This can be fitted to an individual worker with a microphone placed near the ear. It gives an average noise dose for that particular worker, over a day or shift. These are useful where workers move around in their jobs, between noisy and quieter areas.

4.3 Managing noise levels

Noise can be controlled by a risk management approach. Workplaces should have a noise control program in place to deal with noise problems effectively. The use of control measures, safe work procedures and technology can assist to remove or reduce noise hazards to a safe working level.

Control measures may include:

 Eliminate or replacement of noisy plant and equipment  Monitoring and reducing noise emissions  Isolating or enclosing noisy plant and equipment  Design and installation of guards  The acoustical treatment of a workplace  Ventilation  The scheduling of work, job rotation  Restricting the access of people to areas with excessive noise.  Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) http://www.cdu.edu.au/ohrs/policies/documents/PersonalProtectiveEquipmentPPEGuideJ uly2014.docx Ensure that the control measures implemented are reviewed and remain effective.

Induction, information, training and supervision

Training should be provided to all workers who may be exposed to hazardous noise or other agents that may contribute to hearing loss.

0275032cba1a5c3320033bf83f9fd205.docxVersion 1 Contact Officer: WHS Consultant Page 4 of 6 Information or instructions should be delivered in a way that is readily understandable by any person to whom it is provided.

Induction, training and instruction should include:  Safety and testing procedures  correct and safe operating of the equipment  risk management  wearing and care of PPE  the tasks at the workplace that have the potential to cause damage to a person’s hearing  the purpose and nature of audiometric testing

Signage and placarding

Where personal protective devices are issued and used as a means of limiting exposure, signs declaring the work area to be a “Hearing Protection Area” are to be visible at all points on the boundary of the area. Signs shall be compliant with AS 1319 – 1994 (refer to CDU Safety Signage Guide).

Essential Supporting Information

CDU Policies, Guides or Procedures

Work Health and Safety Policy Emergency Management Plan Risk Assessment Form Risk Management Policy First Aid Procedures http://www.cdu.edu.au/governance/procedures/pro-018.pdf First Person on Scene (Accident /Incident) Procedure http://www.cdu.edu.au/governance/procedures/pro-019.pdf Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Guide Safety Signage Guide Workshop safety guide Workers Rehabilitation and Compensation Guide

Acts & Regulations

Work Health and Safety (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2011 Work Health and Safety (National Uniform Legislation) Regulations

Codes of Practice

How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks Managing the Work Environment and Facilities Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss at Work

Australian and New Zealand Standards

AS/NZS 1269.1:2005 – Occupational Noise Management - Measurement and assessment of noise immission and exposure AS/NZS 1269.2:2005 - Occupational Noise Management – Noise control management AS/NZS 1269.3:2005 - Occupational Noise Management – Hearing protector program AS/NZS 1319:1994 – Safety signs for the occupational environment AS/NZS 31000:2009 – Risk Management – Principals and guidelines

Document History and Version Control

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