Noise assessment:

Where any employee (or volunteer) is likely to be exposed to the lower action value or above, you should ensure that a noise assessment is produced by a competent person. The assessment should be adequate for the purposes of identifying which employees are exposed and providing such information as will facilitate compliance with the duties imposed under the Regulations i.e. the reduction of noise risks for these employees
The assessment should be subject to revision regularly and otherwise as appropriate e.g. in response to a change in working procedures or when there is reason to suppose that it is no longer valid. The assessment, including any revisions made, should be recorded and kept until such time as a new assessment is made.
If you are not sure how to complete a risk assessment you should look at the extensive guidance availabe from the HSE and on this site in free downloads

The risk assessment should include consideration of:

• The level, type and duration of exposure
• The effects of exposure on vulnerable employees
• Measures needed to comply with the Noise at Work Regulations and reduce sound levels / exposure to sound levels as far as possible, at source where possible
• Any indirect effects of noise exposure e.g. inability to hear warning signals
• Any interactions between noise and vibration
• Any extension of exposure to noise at the workplace beyond normal working hours and / or exposure in rest facilities
• Sharing information on risks to health and safety with any affected parties
• Published information and guidance

When considering strategies to reduce sound levels / exposure to sound levels you should consider:

• Reducing noise levels at source if possible
• Any information provided by manufacturers of work equipment
• The availability of alternative equipment which is less noisy
• The availability of personal hearing protectors with adequate attenuation characteristics
• Determine what sound levels you will aim for throughout the event and what steps will be taken to ensure levels are kept within agreed limits
• Careful setting of levels at sound check stage
• Positioning and type of loudspeakers and other equipment used
• Regular monitoring and control by competent persons throughout event
• Monitoring both backstage levels and audience levels with a portable decibel meter, where appropriate
• Monitoring and controlling levels from mixing units by sound engineers, where appropriate
• Monitoring and controlling levels of back line equipment where appropriate.
• Providing some method of acoustic shielding (expensive)
• Use of ear protection zones
• Use of shift working and / or rotating tasks to reduce length of exposure of individual staff
• Use of quiet periods between acts
• Encouraging personnel to remain in backstage (low noise) areas unless there is a specific need to enter stage (high noise) areas

When considering who is exposed to noise levels you should consider:

• Audience
• Performers
• Participants
• Stage crew
• Sound engineers
• Those in immediate environment inside event
• Those in immediate environment outside event

Protecting the audience:
There is no specific Legislation setting the limits for audience exposure to noise. The HSE recommends:

• A maximum sound level in any part of the audience area of 107 dB(A)
• A maximum sound pressure level in any part of the audience area of 140 dB
• If the sound level is likely to exceed 96 dB(A) the audience should be warned in advance of the risk to their hearing e.g. on tickets, in the event program or by the use of appropriate signage
• The audience should not be allowed within 3m of any loudspeaker

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