Prevention of Noise-Related Risks in the Workplace

Noise in the workplace can come from many sources: machines, tools, vehicles, and so on. It becomes bothersome, or even dangerous, once it exceeds a certain level.

Health risks increase mainly due to:

• noise level, measured in decibels (A) [dB(A)]
• the employee's duration of exposure

It should be noted that one in five workers in France is exposed to noise levels that are hazardous to health.

The consequences of noise exposure are numerous:

• Deafness
• Stress
• Sleep disorders, fatigue
• Difficulty concentrating
• Loss of effectiveness
• Increased risk of workplace accidents
• Effects on the cardiovascular system: risk of high blood pressure
• Negative effects on the fetus’s inner ear during the last three months of pregnancy

What regulations govern occupational noise hazards?

To prevent these risks, the Labor Code, in Articles R. 4431-1 through R. 4437-4, requires employers to comply with the following prevention requirements, which are based on general prevention principles:

1. Proactive measures regarding the work environment

First and foremost, whenever possible, it is the employer’s responsibility to reduce sources of noise:

• if possible, starting from the design phase of the premises,
• or during major renovations.

These may include decisions regarding work organization, workshop layout, and the selection of quieter processes or equipment...

2. Risk Assessment

The risk assessment, as documented in the Single Occupational Risk Assessment Document (DUERP), serves as the starting point for the prevention process, enabling the employer to identify the measures that need to be taken.

The assessment of noise levels and, if necessary, their measurement are planned and carried out by qualified personnel, with the assistance of the occupational health department as needed.

They are conducted at appropriate intervals, particularly when changes to facilities or work practices are likely to result in increased noise levels.

If a measurement is taken, it must be repeated at least every five years.

If the assessment identifies risks, the employer must take action.

3. Implementation of collective preventive measures

Collective measures are the most effective, so they should be prioritized:

• Noise reduction at the source. Although these measures are the most effective, they are the least commonly implemented because they are often costly or technically difficult to implement
• Measures to control noise propagation. These can include positioning employees further away from noise sources, acoustic treatment of workspaces, enclosing or partitioning off machinery, and installing acoustic barriers...

4. Implementation of personal protective equipment

When all collective noise control measures have been considered and cannot be implemented for either technical or financial reasons, personal protective equipment (PPE) may be used.

The rules are as follows:

• Exposure to 80 dB(A) over an 8-hour period (or 135 dB(C)): requirement to provide hearing protection
• Exposure to 85 dB(A) over an 8-hour period (or 137 dB(C)): mandatory use of hearing protection
• Exposure to 87 dB(A) over 8 hours (or 140 dB(C)): exposure limit value

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5. Staff Information and Training

This information and training cover, in particular:

• the nature of the risk
• the preventive measures taken
• exposure limit values and exposure action values
• the results of noise assessments and measurements
• the proper use of personal hearing protectors
• the importance of, and how to identify and report, symptoms of hearing loss
• the conditions under which workers are entitled to individual health monitoring
• safe work practices, in order to minimize exposure to noise

6. Monitoring employee health

An employee whose noise exposure exceeds 80 dB(A) over an 8-hour period is entitled, at their request or that of the occupational physician, to a preventive hearing test.

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