Rank: Forum user 
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I wonder if anyone could please advise. We are a contractor working permanently on a clients site. We have recently undertaken noise level readings with a sound meter in plant rooms, both at source of equipment and at other areas around the plant room. When equipment is operational, 'some' of the noise levels are as high as 118 dB. Although planned preventative maintenance is undertaken, our client has said they do not have the finances to introduce any engineering controls etc to reduce noise.
If the client is not prepared to lower noise levels then how do we proceed to ensure our staff working in those areas are protected from excessive noise (aside from providing ear defenders)?
Do we have to undertake a full noise survey and if so, how do we move on if the client is not prepared to finance noise reduction measures?
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Rank: Forum user
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Hi safetybod.
Is it possible to reduce the noise by barriers? If not it seems to me that during any planned mantenance tasks you should issue the correct hearing protection. However, those levels seem very high to me and your client has a legal duty to ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of anyone that may be affected by this noise. He also has a duty to reduce noise levels. I do not believe that your client can expect you to work in this area with that level of noise. I suggest that you consult the Noise Regs for more effective/legal advice.
Hope this helps.
Les
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Rank: Super forum user
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I think hearing protection is your best bet, using the noise assessment you have made and assuming that 118dBA is the maximum noise in the area you can still adequately protect against that using correctly fittered ear protection.
The SNR / protection / attenuation offered by hearing protection varies between makes and models and some are specifically designed to offer higher amounts of protectin than others, up to and over 35dBA.
Taking this example of 35dBA from your 118dBA noise level relates to a 83dBA noise level at the operators ear for a full 8hour day in this area.
The HSE in the Noise ACOP also mention the benefits which can be made by "doubling up" on hearing protection, i.e. wearing ear plugs under ear muffs, however the protection increase is not as expected. Wearing 30dBA SNR plugs under 30dBA SNR muffs will NOT give 60dBA protection, but rather 35/36dBA protection.
As you state though the first task should be consideration of reduction of noise at source (outside of your control) next would be reducing the amount of time spent in there - ie job rotation or do more work in quieter / shut down periods, with the final level of protection being ear plugs / muffs.
Des
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Rank: Forum user
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Many thanks both
I should have added reference to times of occupation within the noisiest areas and most of the areas will not require staff to be working in there on a full time basis and it may be an hour or so a couple or times a week or less. However one of the boiler areas requires it to be occupied approx 5 hours a day- 7 days a week. Although there will obviously be breaks etc for staff working there. Even the point of exit is registering excessive noise levels.
With regards to wearing of ear plugs under ear muffs is there not the risk of over- protection then as I note that the HSE state that noise levels at the ear should not be less than 70dB as it can cause difficulty with hearing fire alarms and the like.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Certainly, the SNR or level of protection you choose should be sufficient to control the level of noise to below either 80 or 85dBA (depending on your other control measures).
Excessively reducing the noise at the operators ear by means of over protective hearing protection does quite rightly have the potential to increase the risk to the user from other hazards, not being able to hear fire alarms, vehicle movements, instructions, warnings / alarms, and pretty much feeling isolated from the work environment.
Doubling up on hearing protection should only be a last resort when temporary exposure to extreme levels of noise cannot be mitigated by single use of plugs or muffs alone.
Des
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Rank: Super forum user
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SB
You need to carry out a full noise assessment or get someone to do it for you; otherwise, how can you be sure that you are adequately protecting your employees?
LB
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Same problem as my last post really!
The client will not meet their legal obligations.
The "subbie" wants to do their best, but, they still have to remain a financially solvent company, they also have no authority or responsibility for the root cause of the H&S issue.
No real solution again if the company wants to retain its contract, i.e. keep trading, or make a loss on the contract because the client will not "do" their bit.
When are these "clients" "PC's" etc. going to meet their requirements under legislation for their "subbies"?
It is really entrenched in the legalese of the contract I suspect, however, if the contractor has got themselves protected in the legal contract, and enforce this then you can bet your bottom dollar that they will not get the renewal of the contract, by this time the work will have been done and the "new" contractor will be smelling of roses as they will not be complaining about the H&S so the old contractor was just evil and stirring.
Check mate I think.
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