Health & Safety
The Noise and Vibration at Work Regulations are built around action levels, and an assessment that does not compare against them is not much use. Gaffer records the measured noise level and daily exposure, the vibration magnitude and A(8) figure, and which action level each one crosses.
No credit card required · One platform · Web & Android (iOS coming soon)
An assessment per task and tool, with the numbers compared against the regulatory action levels.
Noise level in dB and daily exposure LEq are recorded with the action level they reach, so the required response — information, hearing protection zones, health surveillance — follows from the record.
Vibration magnitude, type and daily exposure A(8) are captured against the specific tool or equipment, which is the figure the Control of Vibration at Work Regulations work from.
Noise controls, whether hearing protection is required and which type, are recorded alongside the measurement rather than kept in a separate policy.
Noise and vibration assessments connect to your vibration exposure records, health surveillance and tool register.
The Control of Noise at Work Regulations set a lower exposure action value at 80 dB(A) daily exposure and an upper at 85 dB(A), with an exposure limit of 87 dB(A) taking hearing protection into account. Gaffer records which level a measurement reaches so the required response is clear from the record.
A(8) is daily vibration exposure normalised to an eight-hour period. The exposure action value is 2.5 m/s² A(8) and the exposure limit value is 5 m/s² A(8). Gaffer stores the calculated A(8) against the tool and task so exposure can be managed per person.
Manufacturer values are a starting point but usually understate real-world exposure, which is why Gaffer's exposure records store both the manufacturer's value and the actual value you are working to.
It should trigger controls and, above the upper action value for noise or the action value for vibration, health surveillance. Gaffer's health surveillance records are where that follow-through is tracked.
14 days free. Full access. No card needed.