Directive 2003/10 - Minimum health and safety requirements regarding the exposure of workers to the risks arising from physical agents (noise) (Seventeenth individual Directive within the meaning of Article 16(1) of Directive 89/391/EEC) - Main contents

Health and safety at work: exposure to noise

SUMMARY

The Directive applies to activities in which workers are exposed to risks from noise as a result of their work.

WHAT DOES THIS DIRECTIVE DO?

It lays down minimum requirements for the protection of workers from risks to their health and safety arising from exposure to noise, and in particular the risk to hearing.

KEY POINTS

In the workplace, the noise exposure limit values, which must not be exceeded, principally pertains to a daily or weekly exposure of 87 decibels (dB), taking into account any attenuation from hearing protection.

The exposure action values, the decibel levels at which an employer must take certain actions, are set at a daily or weekly exposure of 80 dB (lower value) and 85 dB (upper value).

The employer has a responsibility to assess and, if necessary, measure the levels of noise to which workers are exposed, giving particular attention to:

As far as possible the risk factors must be removed at source or reduced to a minimum, taking into account:

Under no circumstances may the exposure of the worker exceed the exposure limit values.

Workplaces exceeding the exposure action values should be marked appropriately, and have restricted access. The employer must make individual hearing protectors available to workers. The use of hearing protectors is mandatory where the noise level is above the upper action value.

Where noise levels present a health risk, EU countries must ensure the appropriate health surveillance of workers. Those who have been exposed to noise above the upper exposure action values have the right to have their hearing checked, while those whose exposure to noise is above the lower exposure action values have the right to preventive audiometric testing.

Where hearing damage is diagnosed, a doctor will assess whether it is likely to be the result of exposure to noise at work. If this is the case:

WHEN DOES THIS DIRECTIVE APPLY?

The Directive entered into force on 15 February 2003.

KEY TERM

• * 

  Impulsive noise: high intensity noise of short duration, such as a hammer blow.

ACT

Directive 2003/10/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 February 2003 on the minimum health and safety requirements regarding the exposure of workers to the risks arising from physical agents (noise) (Seventeenth individual Directive within the meaning of Article 16(1) of Directive 89/391/EEC)

REFERENCES

Successive amendments and changes to 2003/10/EC have been incorporated in the original text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.

last update 02.10.2015

This summary has been adopted from EUR-Lex.