Noise-Induced Hearing Loss: The Hidden Risk on Construction Sites

Noise-Induced Hearing Loss: The Hidden Risk on Construction Sites

On some construction sites, drilling might be taking place in one area while cutting work is going on nearby. Workers can spend much of their day around noisy equipment, even when they’re not using it themselves. Once the tools are switched off, it’s easy to forget just how loud the working environment has been.

Hearing loss caused by repeated exposure to noise doesn’t usually happen overnight. Someone might notice ringing in their ears after a shift, only to find it’s settled by the following morning. They may think little more of it, unaware that it could be an early warning sign of hearing damage.

The amount of noise workers are exposed to, and how long they spend around it, both need consideration. UK health and safety regulations also set out what employers are expected to do to manage these risks before workers develop hearing problems.

What is Noise-Induced Hearing Loss?

Workers can become so familiar with the sound of machinery that they barely give it a second thought. Their ears, however, are still being exposed to the noise. Inside the inner ear are tiny sensory cells that help us hear by passing sound information to the brain. Excessively loud noise can damage these cells, and once they’re lost, the body cannot replace them.

For someone regularly working around breakers, drills or other noisy equipment, the damage may build up over several years. It can also happen much more suddenly following a single, extremely loud sound.

Hearing sometimes seems muffled after exposure to loud noise before gradually returning to normal. This can give the impression that no harm has been done, even though repeated exposure may eventually lead to permanent hearing loss.

Where Does Harmful Noise Come from on Construction Sites?

Noise can come from several areas of a construction site at once. A worker might be carrying out a relatively quiet task but still spend much of the day listening to machinery or equipment being used nearby. Some activities are particularly noisy, especially when work involves breaking through hard surfaces or moving heavy materials.

Heavy Machinery

Excavators, piling rigs and other large machines are familiar sights on construction sites. The noise they produce depends on the work being carried out, although activities such as piling or breaking up concrete can be particularly loud. Workers operating these machines aren’t necessarily the only people exposed. Other trades may be working nearby for much of the day.

Power Tools

An angle grinder cutting through metal can produce considerable noise, even when it’s only being used for a short period. Hammer drills, disc cutters and concrete breakers are other common examples. On a busy site, several people might be using different tools at the same time, making it difficult to get away from the noise without leaving the working area.

Transportation

Lorries arriving with deliveries, dumpers moving materials and other site vehicles all contribute to the background noise. Engines may be running while vehicles are being loaded or unloaded, particularly in areas where deliveries take place throughout the day. Reversing alarms can add to the noise, although these serve an important safety purpose and shouldn’t simply be disabled.

Material Handling

Some of the loudest sounds on site can come from moving materials rather than operating machinery. Metal scaffolding tubes being unloaded, steel sections being moved, or waste materials dropped into skips can all produce sudden, sharp noises.

These sounds may only last a few seconds, but workers positioned close to the activity can still be exposed to high noise levels. The type of material, how it’s handled and the distance between the activity and nearby workers can all affect the level of exposure.

Recognising the Early Signs of Hearing Damage

Someone might start turning the television up louder at home, only for a family member to complain about the volume. They may not have noticed the change themselves.

On site, conversations can become harder to follow when there’s machinery running nearby. A worker might catch only part of what their supervisor has said, then have to ask for the instructions again. Having to concentrate on every word can be tiring, and repeatedly asking people to speak up may become frustrating.

For some workers, the first noticeable problem is a ringing sound after they’ve finished work. Others describe hearing a faint buzzing or hissing noise, particularly when they’re somewhere quiet. This is known as tinnitus, and although the sound may disappear after a while, it shouldn’t be ignored.

There are other reasons why someone’s hearing might change, including ear infections or a build-up of earwax. If a worker begins noticing problems with their hearing, arranging a hearing assessment can help establish what might be causing them. Sudden hearing loss should be assessed urgently.

What Do UK Noise Regulations Require?

Noise from construction work is covered by different regulations depending on who is being affected. The noise someone experiences while operating a concrete breaker is treated differently from the noise heard by residents living next to a construction site

Noise Mapping and Action Planning

On larger construction sites, several noisy activities may be happening in different areas throughout the day. Assessing noise levels can help identify where workers are being exposed and whether further precautions are needed. Some sites may use noise maps to show where particularly noisy work is taking place.

England also has separate requirements for strategic noise mapping under the Environmental Noise (England) Regulations 2006. These mainly concern noise from major roads, railways, airports and large urban areas, rather than individual construction sites.

Noise Action Plans

Once high levels of workplace noise have been identified, employers need to consider how exposure can be reduced. Where workers are likely to be exposed at or above the upper exposure action value, the HSE requires a planned programme of noise control.

For example, if concrete breaking is scheduled near an area where other trades are working, the site manager may need to reconsider the timing or location of the activity. Any measures introduced should be reviewed as work progresses and site conditions change.

These workplace arrangements are separate from the strategic Noise Action Plans produced by public authorities to address wider environmental noise.

Statutory Nuisance

Construction noise can affect people outside the site boundary too. Residents living nearby may experience repeated drilling, demolition work or noisy deliveries, particularly when work begins early in the morning.

Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, local councils can investigate noise complaints that may amount to a statutory nuisance. The Control of Pollution Act 1974 also gives councils powers to restrict construction noise, including specifying working hours or the machinery that can be used.

Environmental Permits

Environmental permits aren’t required for every construction project. They apply to certain regulated activities, such as some waste treatment operations, where noise pollution may need to be controlled as part of the permit conditions.

Where an environmental permit applies, the operator may be required to assess noise affecting areas beyond the site boundary and prepare a noise management plan. The requirements depend on the activity and the conditions of the permit.

Noise at Work Regulations

The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 deal specifically with protecting workers from harmful noise exposure.

Employers must assess the risks when workers are likely to be exposed to noise at or above the lower exposure action value of 80 dB(A), measured as daily or weekly personal exposure. At 85 dB(A), further measures are required to reduce exposure, alongside providing hearing protection and establishing hearing protection zones where applicable.

There is also an exposure limit of 87 dB(A), taking account of the protection provided by earplugs or ear defenders. Workers must not be exposed above this limit. Separate action values and limits apply to sudden, very loud peak noises.

These requirements concern how much noise a person is exposed to during their working day or week, rather than simply how loud a particular machine is when it’s switched on.

How Can Construction Sites Reduce Noise Exposure?

Some construction work will always involve noisy equipment, but there are ways to reduce how much noise reaches people working nearby. The equipment being used, where work takes place and the time workers spend around it can all influence their exposure.

Use Quieter Equipment

Before hiring or purchasing machinery, it’s worth comparing the noise levels provided by manufacturers. A newer machine isn’t necessarily quieter, and two tools designed for the same job can produce very different levels of noise.

Sometimes the working method can be changed too. For example, using a block splitter rather than a cut-off saw may be suitable for certain masonry work, avoiding much of the noise produced by cutting.

Install Acoustic Barriers

A compressor running beside an active work area could expose several workers to noise throughout the day. Moving it further away may be possible, but if it needs to remain in that location, a temporary acoustic screen could reduce the sound reaching nearby workers.

Barriers need to be positioned carefully to be effective. Existing site structures can sometimes provide screening, although access routes and safe working arrangements still need to be considered.

Plan and Schedule Noisy Tasks

If concrete breaking is due to take place in an area where several other trades are working, the site manager could arrange for those activities to happen at different times.

Planning noisy work around other site activities can reduce the number of people exposed. On some projects, it may be easier to temporarily move other trades to a different part of the site until the noisiest work has finished.

Maintain Machinery Properly

A rattling guard might be easy to hear when a generator first starts up. After a few days, though, people can become used to the sound. A damaged silencer or worn component can also make equipment considerably noisier than it was when it first arrived on site.

These changes are worth investigating, even if the machinery appears to be working normally. Maintenance records and the manufacturer’s servicing instructions can help identify when parts need attention. If something has become loose or damaged, repairs should be arranged rather than leaving the problem until the next scheduled service.

Train Workers in Noise-Safe Practices

Someone using a disc cutter might already know they need hearing protection, but what about the people working a few metres away? They may be exposed to the same activity without realising how loud it is.

Before noisy work begins, supervisors can explain which areas will be affected and what precautions are needed. These conversations can take place during toolbox talks or when workers are being briefed on a particular task.

If different equipment is brought onto site, workers may need further instruction. They should also know who to speak to if they notice damaged hearing protection or a problem with the noise controls already in place.

Provide Suitable Ear Defenders

Ear defenders need to sit properly around the ears to provide the intended protection. This can sometimes be difficult when workers are also wearing safety glasses or hard hats, particularly if the equipment hasn’t been checked for compatibility.

Some workers may find earplugs more comfortable, especially when moving between different tasks. The type of protection should be chosen according to the noise exposure and how well it fits the individual.

It’s also worth checking that workers can still hear necessary warning signals. Simply choosing ear defenders with the highest noise reduction rating isn’t always appropriate, and hearing protection shouldn’t replace measures that could reduce the noise before it reaches workers.

Why Are Regular Hearing Checks Important?

A worker might spend years using noisy machinery without noticing much difference in their hearing. A hearing test could tell a different story. Sometimes the changes are small enough to go unnoticed in everyday life, but comparing the results with an earlier test can show whether someone’s hearing has deteriorated.

If a test shows a change, it’s worth looking at the work that person has been carrying out. Have they recently spent more time around noisy equipment? Are the existing noise controls providing enough protection? Hearing that’s already been permanently damaged cannot be restored, so finding out what’s happening gives employers an opportunity to review working arrangements before further damage occurs.

Not everyone starts work with the same level of hearing. Some people may have experienced difficulties long before they began working in construction. Having previous test results available means an occupational health professional can see whether anything has changed since their last assessment.

Away from work, hearing difficulties can become noticeable in ordinary situations. A conversation around the dinner table might be harder to follow when several people are speaking at once. Rather than repeatedly asking what was said, someone may begin sitting quietly and missing parts of the conversation. An audiologist can advise on hearing aids or other support if these difficulties continue.

Hearing loss has also been studied in connection with dementia. Researchers have found that people with hearing loss are more likely to develop dementia, although the reasons for this are still being investigated. A hearing assessment won’t prevent dementia, but it can reveal difficulties that someone might not have noticed themselves.

For employers, hearing checks form part of health surveillance. The HSE requires this for employees regularly exposed above the upper noise exposure action value, as well as those otherwise at risk of hearing damage.

Protecting Workers’ Hearing on Construction Sites

Once a noisy task has finished, work usually moves on to the next activity. The equipment might be packed away, but that doesn’t mean the exposure should be forgotten. On sites where loud machinery is used regularly, it’s worth checking that the precautions put in place are still suitable as work progresses. A change in equipment or the arrival of another contractor could mean more people are working close to noisy activities than originally planned.

Hurst Setter offers Noise & Vibration training for construction businesses looking to improve their understanding of these workplace risks. The training gives employers an opportunity to develop their team’s knowledge of noise-related hazards and how they should be managed.

For further information about Noise & Vibration training, contact Hurst Setter to discuss the courses available.