Noise at work on a construction site is controlled by the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005, which require employers to assess noise risks and to reduce exposure, and to provide hearing protection where noise cannot be reduced enough. Loud noise can cause permanent hearing damage, and the harm builds up slowly, so many people do not notice it until it is too late. This guide covers the main ideas in plain English. For the exposure values and the detail, always check the HSE noise pages.
Key takeaways
- The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 require employers to assess and reduce the risk to hearing from noise at work.
- The regulations use exposure action values and an exposure limit value, and the HSE noise page gives the current figures.
- Noise-induced hearing loss usually builds up gradually, and once hearing has gone it does not come back (HSE's noise key facts page says the second part), so prevention is the only reliable protection.
- Employers must reduce noise at source first, and use hearing protection as the last resort rather than the first answer.
- Where hearing protection is needed it must be suitable, fitted properly, worn and kept in good condition.
- Workers must use the controls provided, wear hearing protection when instructed and report problems or hearing symptoms.
Why noise matters on site
Many common site tools are loud. Breakers, cutting saws, grinders, compressors, generators and plant can all produce noise levels that, over a working day, put hearing at risk. Noise exposure depends on two things together: how loud the noise is, and how long you are exposed to it. A short burst of very loud noise and a long period of moderately loud noise can both cause damage.
Hearing loss from noise is usually gradual. You may notice that:
- Speech sounds muffled or you struggle in conversations with background noise.
- You hear ringing or buzzing in your ears (tinnitus), sometimes after work.
- Your hearing seems dull for a while after a noisy shift.
These signs are warnings. Temporary dullness can be an early clue that the exposure is too high. Damage to the inner ear from noise is permanent, and it can also affect life outside work, such as following conversation or hearing a doorbell. Tell your supervisor or occupational health contact if you notice these effects.
What the regulations require
The regulations place duties on employers, and workers have to cooperate. In plain English, the employer must:
- Assess the risk. Look at the noise levels people are exposed to and for how long. The assessment should cover the whole job, including nearby work that adds to the noise.
- Reduce the risk. Remove or lower the noise at source where possible, rather than relying on people to protect themselves.
- Provide hearing protection where noise cannot be reduced enough (the exact duty depends on the exposure action values), and make sure it is used.
- Keep exposure below the limit. There is an exposure limit value that must not be exceeded, taking account of hearing protection.
- Mark and restrict areas where hearing protection is required, so that people know where to wear it.
- Provide health surveillance where there is a risk to health, such as hearing checks.
- Give information, instruction and training so that workers understand the risks and what they must do.
The regulations use two exposure action values, a lower and an upper, and an exposure limit value. Each triggers different duties, and the figures are set out on the HSE noise page and in the regulations. Look there for the current numbers rather than relying on a figure remembered from a poster or from a colleague.
Controlling noise: the hierarchy
The sensible approach is to deal with noise before it reaches the person. HSE guidance supports this order of thinking.
- Eliminate the noise. Can the task be done another way, or avoided? Prefabrication off site can remove cutting from the working area.
- Buy or hire quieter equipment. Noise levels are a good reason to choose one tool over another.
- Maintain equipment. Worn parts, loose panels and poor lubrication often make machines noisier.
- Use engineering controls. Enclosures, screens, silencers and anti-vibration mounts can lower noise reaching workers.
- Change the way work is organised. Increase distance from noisy plant, limit the time people spend close to it, and arrange quiet breaks where this helps.
- Provide hearing protection as the last resort, and only when the other measures do not reduce exposure enough.
Notice that hearing protection is last. It depends on the right choice, a good fit and constant use, and one lapse during a loud task takes away a lot of the benefit. The wider picture of protective equipment is in the PPE guide.
Hearing protection that works
Hearing protection can include earmuffs and earplugs. To be useful it needs to be:
- Suitable for the level and type of noise on that task.
- Compatible with other equipment such as helmets and eye protection.
- Properly fitted, with earplugs inserted correctly and muffs sealing against the head.
- Worn for the whole of the noisy task, not taken off for a minute.
- Kept clean, checked for damage and replaced when worn.
Protection that is too strong can be a hazard too, because it can make it harder to hear warnings, alarms and instructions. Your employer should consider this when choosing equipment, and you should say if you cannot hear what you need to hear.
Where noise meets other site hazards
Noise rarely comes alone. A task that produces noise often also produces dust or vibration. Breaking concrete, for instance, can affect hearing, lungs and hands in one job. The guide on hand-arm vibration shows how the same tool can create a separate risk, and the controls for each need to be considered together. If you are unsure whether a task has been assessed for all its hazards, ask before you start.
Noise checklist for site workers
| Check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Have I been told if hearing protection is needed here? | Signs and instructions show where protection is required. |
| Do I know which hearing protection I should use? | The wrong type can leave you under-protected. |
| Is it clean, undamaged and fitted correctly? | A poor fit or damage reduces protection. |
| Am I wearing it for the whole of the noisy task? | Taking it off briefly still lets damage build up. |
| Is the machine properly maintained and guarded? | Maintenance and enclosures often cut noise at source. |
| Have I reported any ringing, muffled hearing or other symptoms? | Early reporting allows the situation to be reviewed. |
Practice check
These questions are original practice items written for this site. They are not official CITB questions and do not predict your result. This site is independent and not affiliated with CSCS or CITB. For information on the real test, see the operatives test format page.
Question 1. An employer wants to reduce the risk to hearing from a noisy cutting task. Which action should come first?
- A. Give everyone earplugs and carry on
- B. Look for a way to remove or reduce the noise at source
- C. Ask workers to take shorter breaks
- D. Remove the warning sign to avoid alarming people
Correct answer: B. Controls at source come before personal protection, which is the last resort.
Question 2. After a loud shift you notice a ringing in your ears. What should you do?
- A. Ignore it because it always wears off
- B. Wear lighter hearing protection next time
- C. Report it to your supervisor so that your exposure and protection can be reviewed
- D. Turn up the volume on your phone
Correct answer: C. Ringing and muffled hearing can be early signs of noise damage and should be reported.
A worked example: breaking out a concrete slab
This is an invented illustration. A crew is asked to break out a concrete slab with a hydraulic breaker. The noise is obvious, and the task will also create dust and vibration, so the planner treats all three together.
Working through the hierarchy, the planner first asks whether the slab needs breaking out in that way, or whether a different method would be quieter. If the breaking is needed, they look for the quietest suitable equipment and check it is well maintained. They then consider screens or distance, and limit the time any one person spends on the tool by rotating the task (general practice).
Hearing protection is chosen for the remaining exposure. The employer picks a type suited to the task, confirms it works with helmets and eye protection, and shows each worker how to fit it. The area is marked so people know where protection is needed.
On the day, the operator wears the protection for the whole task, and a colleague checks nearby workers are covered too. Afterwards, anyone with ringing or muffled hearing reports it so that the arrangements can be reviewed.
Questions to ask before a noisy task
- Has noise been assessed for this job, including work nearby?
- Can the work be done another way, or the tool be swapped for a quieter one?
- Is the machine maintained, with guards and panels in place?
- Are areas needing hearing protection marked?
- Do I have the right protection, and do I know how to fit it?
- Who do I tell if I notice symptoms?
The same job may involve other hazards, so read the hand-arm vibration guide and the PPE guide alongside this one, and use the HSE noise page for current values.
FAQ
Is hearing protection the first thing an employer should provide?
No. Employers must first try to reduce noise at source and through other controls. Hearing protection is used where noise cannot be reduced enough, and it supports the other measures rather than replacing them.
What noise levels trigger the regulations?
The regulations set lower and upper exposure action values and an exposure limit value. The exact figures are on the HSE noise page and in the regulations, so check those rather than relying on memory.
Can noise damage my hearing even if it does not hurt?
Yes. Noise-induced hearing loss usually develops gradually and painlessly, and the damage is permanent. That is why prevention and early reporting of symptoms matter.
Do I have to wear hearing protection if I am told to?
Yes. Workers must use the equipment provided and follow instructions about where and when to wear it. If it does not fit, is uncomfortable or stops you hearing warnings, tell your supervisor so that a better option can be found.
Sources
Independent guide, not affiliated with, authorised by, approved by or endorsed by CSCS or CITB. Last updated 2026-10-08.