Hi All, 

i am completeting an expectanty mother RA and i have a query on the noise levels. a recent noise assessment has indicated that the noise levels average around 80db but can occasionally spike at 85 db around 10 times per day. As i understand it the noise levels can affect an unborn child from 26 weeks however the area is already a hearing advisory zone. 

Should i consider moving the expectant mother to a quieter part of the factory/ change her job role based on the occasional noise spike to 85db or would it be suffiecent to weigh up the risk of the exposure over the working day and the daily avarage of around 80db?

The noise regs do not give specific guidane on the levels. any thoughts or recommened further reference points? the expectant mother is reviewed every 4-6 weeks dependant on circimstance and can be reviewed at any time. 

The mother is currently happy and doesnt regard the noise levels as a concern

As Paul is located in SW England what benefit is a link to US CDC guidance when the employer is subject to HASAW / UK legislation?

The CDC guidance states: Sudden loud noises (impact or impulse noise) that are loud enough for you to need hearing protection or that startle you should be avoided during pregnancy.

"noise levels average around 80db but can occasionally spike at 85 db around 10 times per day."

That equates to ten breaches of the guidance provided.

First, I'm no expert, however, I did do some research around this when I was involved in drawing up guidance re expectant mothers in a power station environment around 10 years ago. There are very specific periods of featal development where problems can occur due to external factors, including the development of hearing function. As the baby develops there are stages where certain nerve / sensory aspects develop strongly and as such high noise but below the noise regs thresholds (Noise will propogate through the mother differently than through air) do pose a risk to the childs hearing development. 

As stated, I am no expert and I doubt anyone on this forum is, best advice is speak to OH requesting input from a genuine expert in the developemnt in hearing of a featus, you may well have to remove the employee from the noise. 

Hope that helps

Really curious to see the meter providing such definitive figures in a liquid media rather than the typical air.

Thought it was a hydrophone rather than microphone for submerged metering.

Applicable regulations and HSE advice refer to risk from noise to the expectant mother so this is what you should concentrate on. Ensure that the daily noise exposure does not exceed the 2nd action level by changing work practices/areas and really emphasise the recommendation for appropriate hearing protection if the 1st action level is exceeded.

haven't we discussed this before?  Just because the UK HSE hasn't brought out any guidance doesn't mean the risk isn't there...yes there is a risk to the unborn from excess noise..research says noise should not be in excess of 80dB (Sweden)...same for Canada and US there were increased risk of NIHL in newborn as a result of exposure to noise hence the CDC guidance..you just need to ensure that you have assessed the risks and record that...