Guide
Workplace noise assessment: the 80/85 dB(A) action values and costs
Updated
If your workplace is loud enough that people must raise their voices to talk at two metres, the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 almost certainly apply, and a competent noise exposure assessment is the first duty on the list.
The action values, and what each triggers
| Threshold | Daily/weekly exposure | What it triggers |
|---|---|---|
| Lower exposure action value | 80 dB(A) | Assess the risk, provide information and training, make hearing protection available on request |
| Upper exposure action value | 85 dB(A) | Reduce exposure by a programme of control measures; hearing protection zones; protection must be used; health surveillance |
| Exposure limit value | 87 dB(A) | Must not be exceeded, taking hearing protection into account |
There are also peak sound pressure values (135 dB(C) lower, 137 dB(C) upper, 140 dB(C) limit) for impulsive noise such as impact tools. The full framework and employer guidance is at hse.gov.uk/noise.
What a workplace noise survey involves
- Measurement: sound level measurements across work areas and, where exposure varies, personal dosimetry on representative workers over a shift.
- Exposure calculation: daily or weekly personal exposure calculated per role and compared with the action values above.
- The risk assessment output: which roles exceed which values, what controls are recommended (engineering controls before hearing protection), and where hearing protection zones and health surveillance are needed.
- Competence: the Regulations require the assessment to be made by someone competent; consultants with acoustics qualifications (commonly Institute of Acoustics credentials) are the usual route for anything beyond simple cases.
What it costs
A workplace noise survey typically costs £750–£1,500 (typical 2026 fees), in the same band as a planning assessment: a single site with a handful of work areas sits at the lower end, and multi-shift dosimetry across many roles pushes towards and beyond the top. The survey repays itself in specificity: generic "wear ear defenders everywhere" policies are exactly what the Regulations' control hierarchy is meant to replace.
After the survey
- Act on the control programme. Where the upper action values are exceeded, the duty is to reduce exposure by organisational and technical measures, not just to hand out protection.
- Set up health surveillance for workers regularly exposed above the upper action values.
- Reassess when things change. New machinery, layouts or shift patterns invalidate the old exposure picture. Get quotes from consultants who do both the survey and the follow-up.