Noise at Work Regulations: Employer Duties in Great Britain

Under the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005, employers in Great Britain must assess the risk to employees from noise, take action to reduce the exposure that creates the risk, provide hearing protection where exposure cannot be reduced enough by other means, make sure the exposure limit values are not exceeded, provide information, instruction and training, and carry out health surveillance where there is a risk to health. The duty to give information, instruction and training applies wherever employees are exposed to noise likely to be at or above the lower exposure action value of 80 dB(A).

This guide is based on HSE (the Health and Safety Executive) guidance and the text of the regulations on legislation.gov.uk. It covers Great Britain. Northern Ireland is regulated by HSENI and is not covered here.

The action values and limit values

Regulation 4 sets three levels. Daily or weekly exposure is measured in dB(A), and peak sound pressure in dB(C). Weekly exposure can replace daily exposure where a person's noise exposure varies markedly from day to day.

HSE says employers must make sure the exposure limit values are not exceeded. Reaching an action value triggers specific duties, set out below.

What employers must do, regulation by regulation

The information and training duty in detail

Regulation 10 applies to employees and their representatives. The information, instruction and training must cover, among other things:

• the nature of the risks from exposure to noise;
• the measures the employer has taken to comply with the duty to control exposure;
• the exposure limit values and action values;
• the significant findings of the risk assessment;
• the availability and correct use of hearing protectors;
• how to detect and report signs of hearing damage;
• entitlement to health surveillance;
• safe working practices to minimise exposure; and
• the collective, anonymised results of health surveillance.

It must be updated when there is a significant change in the type of work or working methods. The duty also extends to anyone, whether or not an employee, who does work connected with the employer's duties under the Regulations and needs suitable information, instruction and training to do it.

HSE's practical guidance adds that where exposure is above the lower action values you should at least tell people the likely noise exposure and the risk to hearing, what you are doing to control risks, where and how they can get hearing protection, how to report defects in protection and noise-control equipment, their duties under the Regulations, the proper way to use and look after hearing protection and noise-control equipment, and how health surveillance works. HSE also says to give information in a way the employee can be expected to understand, with special arrangements if someone does not understand English or cannot read.

Hearing protection: what users need to be taught

HSE says employers must give users instructions on fitting and using hearing protection, including why it is being issued. Training should cover:

• how to fit protectors properly;
• where and when they must be worn;
• things that can interfere with protection, such as long hair, woolly hats, spectacles and earrings;
• wearing protectors with other PPE where appropriate;
• storage, care and frequent checks; and
• where to report damage and how to get replacements.

HSE stresses that protectors must be worn at all times in a noisy environment, noting that removing them for only a few minutes will considerably lower the protection. It also says hearing protection should not replace technical and organisational noise control, and it advises avoiding protectors that reduce the level at the ear to below 70 dB because of over-protection.

Health surveillance

According to HSE, employers must provide hearing checks for workers regularly exposed above the upper exposure action values, and for others at higher risk, for example people who already have hearing loss. Ideally surveillance starts before people are exposed. HSE says checks are usually annual for the first two years of employment and then at three-yearly intervals, more often if a problem is detected. Under Regulation 9, employees must be able to attend surveillance during working hours at the employer's cost, and the employer must keep health records. If damage linked to noise is found, the employee must be referred to a doctor, and the employer must review the risk assessment and controls.

Keeping the risk assessment current

HSE says the assessment should be reviewed when conditions change, and warns against waiting for more than about two years without checking whether a review is needed. Record the findings together with an action plan covering what has been done, what is planned, a timetable and who is responsible. Training should follow the assessment: when it changes, the information and instruction people receive should change with it. Track completion in a training matrix, and for general principles on timing see how often health and safety training needs renewing in the UK. The regulations set no refresher interval for noise training beyond updating it when work or methods change.

Noise and vibration

On 13 October 2026 HSE launched a campaign urging employers to assess noise and vibration risks, reduce exposure and protect workers. Employers' duties on vibration come from the separate Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005, so noise training does not cover them.

Frequently asked questions

At what noise level do I have to train employees?

Regulation 10 applies where employees are exposed to noise likely to be at or above the lower exposure action value: 80 dB(A) daily or weekly exposure, or 135 dB(C) peak sound pressure.

Are hearing protectors compulsory?

At the lower action value they must be made available to anyone who asks. At the upper action value, where other measures cannot reduce noise enough, employers must provide them and ensure proper use.

What is the maximum noise exposure?

The exposure limit values are 87 dB(A) and 140 dB(C) peak. HSE says employers must make sure they are not exceeded.

Does the training duty cover people who are not employees?

Regulation 10 extends to anyone, whether or not an employee, who does work connected with the employer's duties under the Regulations and needs suitable information, instruction and training to do it. If you use contractors or agency workers in noisy areas, agree who provides what.

Who needs hearing checks?

HSE says workers regularly exposed above the upper exposure action values, and anyone at higher risk for other reasons.

A sensible next step

Start with the risk assessment, because it tells you who is at or above the action values and what they need to know. Then build short, role-specific briefings and record them. You can find more workplace compliance learning on the Learnsignal CPD hub.

This article is general information based on HSE guidance and the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 as at October 2026. It is not regulatory, legal or compliance advice. Check the legislation and HSE guidance for your own situation.