Noise Protection Policy

Effective Date: 1 July 2026

Review Date: 1 September 2028

Policy Owner: Director of Music

Operational lead: Music Centre Safety Co-ordinator

Professional support: Environmental, Health and Safety Services

  1. Purpose

This policy sets out how the Laidlaw Music Centre will manage foreseeable risks to hearing health arising from music, amplified sound, teaching, rehearsal, performance, recording and technical activities.

The policy supports the artistic and educational purpose of the Music Centre while ensuring that noise risks are assessed and controlled in line with the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005, the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, University policy and relevant music sector guidance.

The aim is to prevent noise-induced hearing damage, including tinnitus and temporary or permanent hearing loss, through effective planning, suitable controls, clear responsibilities, appropriate information and access to hearing protection where required.

  1. Scope

This policy applies to:

  • Students of any discipline who use the Music Centre
  • Staff employed or contracted to work in the Music Centre (academic, administrative, technical)
  • Visiting performers and tutors engaged for lessons, masterclasses, workshops, or performances
  • Members of the public using facilities, attending concerts, open days, or other events

It covers all activities within Music Centre premises, including rehearsal, teaching, practice, recording, performance and technical support.

It also applies to off-site activities organised or controlled by the Music Centre where noise exposure is a foreseeable risk.

The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 apply primarily to employees and others undertaking work activities. The University will also manage foreseeable noise risks to students, visitors, audience members and other facility users under its wider health and safety duties.

  1. Legal and Regulatory Framework

This policy supports compliance with:

  • The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
  • The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
  • The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005
  • University Health and Safety Policy
  • HSE guidance, including Sound Advice: Control of Noise at Work in Music and Entertainment
  • Relevant sector guidance from bodies including the Association of British Orchestras and the Musicians’ Union

The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 require employers to prevent or reduce risks to health and safety from exposure to noise at work. Where exposure cannot be eliminated, it must be reduced so far as is reasonably practicable by suitable organisational, technical and protective measures.

  1. Exposure Action and Limit Values

Metric

Lower Action Value

Upper Action Value

Exposure Limit

Daily or weekly personal exposure (LEP,d or LEP,w)

80 dB(A)

85 dB(A)

87 dB(A)

Peak sound pressure (LCpeak)

135 dB(C)

137 dB(C)

140 dB(C)
  • Lower exposure action value: Requires assessment of exposure, provision of suitable information, instruction and training, and making appropriate hearing protection available on request.
  • Upper exposure action value: Requires a planned programme of measures to reduce exposure so far as reasonably practicable. Where hearing protection is required, hearing protection zones will be identified and the use of suitable hearing protection will be mandatory in those areas or activities. Suitable health surveillance will be provided for staff identified as being at risk.
  • Exposure limit value: Must not be exceeded. When assessing compliance with the exposure limit value, the attenuation provided by hearing protection may be taken into account.

Average noise level

Time to reach upper exposure action value (85dB)

85dB

8 hours

95dB

45 minutes

100dB

15 minutes

105dB

5 minutes

110dB

under 2 minutes

115dB

under 30 seconds

These figures are indicative only and do not replace a suitable and sufficient noise risk assessment. Actual exposure will depend on the full pattern of exposure over the day or week, including rehearsals, teaching, practice, performances, sound checks and other noisy activities.

  1. Responsibilities

5.1 Director of Music

  • Ensure adequate resources are available to implement this policy
  • Ensure suitable and sufficient noise risk assessments are completed and reviewed
  • Ensure that significant equipment, activity, staffing or building changes with noise implications are considered before implementation
  • Ensure that responsibilities for noise management are clearly assigned
  • Ensure that unresolved or significant risks are escalated through University management and safety governance arrangements

5.2 Music Centre Safety Co-ordinator

  • Maintain local noise risk assessments and associated action plans
  • Co-ordinate noise monitoring where required, with support from competent persons where necessary
  • Liaise with the University Safety Office and Occupational Health on noise risk management and health surveillance arrangements
  • Ensure local controls, signage and hearing protection arrangements are maintained
  • Record and investigate noise-related concerns, complaints, incidents and near misses through the University reporting system
  • Review local arrangements following incidents, complaints, significant changes or monitoring results

5.3 Music Centre Staff

  • Follow this policy and any relevant noise risk assessments
  • Integrate noise awareness into teaching, rehearsal and event planning where relevant
  • Use reasonable adjustments to reduce exposure, such as layout, positioning, duration, breaks and volume control
  • Model and enforce the use of hearing protection where required by local controls or signage
  • Report defective equipment, damaged acoustic controls, missing hearing protection, unsuitable room conditions or unsafe practices
  • Encourage students and visitors to report symptoms such as tinnitus, muffled hearing or temporary hearing changes following exposure

5.4 Students and members of the public

  • Follow reasonable instructions provided by Music Centre staff, event staff, signage or pre-event information
  • Use hearing protection where advised or when entering a designated hearing protection area
  • Make use of available hearing protection where they consider sound levels uncomfortable
  • Report concerns about excessive noise, tinnitus, muffled hearing or temporary hearing changes to Music Centre staff
  • Avoid creating unnecessary noise or using amplification in a way that could place themselves or others at risk

5.5 Visiting Performers and Tutors

  • Comply with this policy and all local noise control measures
  • Provide advance information about unusually loud instrumentation, amplified sound, percussion, brass, electronic music or other activities likely to create significant noise exposure
  • Co-operate with sound checks, agreed volume limits, room layout controls and any requirement to use hearing protection
  • Ensure that any equipment they bring is suitable, safe and used in accordance with local arrangements
  • Report any noise-related concerns, symptoms or incidents to their Music Centre host

5.6 Event and Front-of-House Staff

  • Ensure that event-specific noise controls are understood before the event starts
  • Confirm the availability and location of hearing protection for audience members, performers and staff
  • Brief attendees on hearing protection availability where the risk assessment or event arrangements require this
  • Support sound checks and monitoring arrangements for amplified or high-noise events
  • Raise concerns promptly with the nominated event lead or sound operator where sound levels appear excessive
  • Stop, pause or reduce sound levels where there is an immediate risk to health, where agreed limits are exceeded, or where instructed by the nominated event lead
  1. Risk Assessment

A suitable and sufficient noise risk assessment will be completed for activities where exposure to noise may create a risk to hearing health.

Noise risk assessments will be reviewed:

  • At least annually for routine Music Centre activities
  • Before any new activity, ensemble configuration, event type, room use, equipment installation or change likely to alter noise exposure
  • Following any incident, complaint, reported hearing symptom or significant change in building acoustics
  • Where monitoring, health surveillance or user feedback suggests that existing controls may no longer be effective

Assessments will identify:

  • The activities, rooms, events or tasks being assessed
  • Staff, students, performers, visitors and others who may be exposed
  • Measured or estimated exposure levels, including daily or weekly exposure where relevant
  • Peak noise risks, including percussion, brass, amplified music and sound checks
  • Existing controls and any additional measures required
  • Whether hearing protection is required or should be made available
  • Whether any areas or activities should be designated as hearing protection zones
  • Whether staff health surveillance is required
  • Any required actions, responsible persons and completion dates
  1. Control Measures

Control measures will follow the hierarchy of control. The first priority is to avoid or reduce noise exposure through planning, layout, equipment choice, room selection, acoustic treatment and working methods. Hearing protection will be used where risk remains or where it is required as part of a specific risk assessment.

7.1 Engineering Controls

  • Suitable acoustic treatment in rehearsal, practice, recording and performance spaces
  • Use of screens, baffles or other acoustic separation where appropriate
  • Appropriate positioning of loud instruments, amplifiers, speakers and monitors
  • Use of suitable sound limiting, mixing or monitoring equipment where appropriate
  • Maintenance of doors, seals, acoustic panels and other features that affect noise control
  • Selection and maintenance of equipment to avoid unnecessary noise or distortion

7.2 Administrative Controls

  • Scheduling loud activities to reduce the likelihood of excessive daily or weekly exposure
  • Providing adequate recovery time between high-noise sessions where reasonably practicable
  • Rotating musicians, staff or students away from high-exposure positions where appropriate
  • Positioning musicians to reduce exposure, for example avoiding unnecessary placement directly in front of brass, percussion or amplified sources
  • Time-limiting continuous loud practice, rehearsal or technical activity where required by the risk assessment
  • Planning sound checks to avoid unnecessary duration or excessive levels
  • Setting event-specific arrangements for amplified or high-noise events, including a nominated person with authority to reduce sound levels
  • Keeping records of monitoring, significant concerns and actions taken where required

7.3 Personal Hearing Protection

Suitable hearing protection will be made available where the lower exposure action value may be reached or exceeded, or where the risk assessment identifies a need.

The use of hearing protection will be mandatory in designated hearing protection zones and for activities where the risk assessment requires it.

The Music Centre will provide access to disposable earplugs for visitors, audience members and occasional users. Staff, students and regular users who are exposed to significant music noise should be encouraged to use suitable musician’s earplugs or custom-moulded protection where appropriate.

Hearing protection should be selected to reduce risk while still allowing safe communication, musical performance and awareness of the surrounding environment.

7.4 Hearing Protection Zones

Where the noise risk assessment identifies areas or activities where hearing protection is required, these will be designated as hearing protection zones.

Hearing protection zones may be permanent, temporary or activity specific. They will be identified through signage, event information, staff instruction or other suitable communication.

Anyone entering or working within a hearing protection zone must wear suitable hearing protection unless an authorised risk assessment identifies an alternative control arrangement.

7.5 Amplified Events and Performances

Amplified events, performances, sound checks and technical rehearsals will be planned so that noise exposure is controlled so far as reasonably practicable.

Where required by the risk assessment, arrangements will include:

  • A nominated event lead or sound operator with authority to reduce sound levels
  • Pre-event consideration of expected sound levels, audience location and staff exposure
  • Sound checks managed to avoid unnecessary duration or excessive levels
  • Suitable positioning of speakers, monitors, performers, staff and audience members
  • Availability of hearing protection for staff, performers and audience members
  • Noise monitoring during the event where appropriate
  • A clear process for reducing volume, pausing activity or stopping an event if sound levels create an immediate risk
  1. Health Surveillance for Music Centre staff

Suitable health surveillance will be provided for staff where the noise risk assessment identifies a risk to hearing health. This will normally include staff who are regularly exposed above the upper exposure action value, and may include others where individual vulnerability, symptoms or exposure patterns indicate a need.

Baseline audiometry should be considered for staff whose role is likely to involve regular exposure to significant noise. Periodic audiometry will be arranged through Occupational Health at intervals informed by the level of risk, exposure profile and occupational health advice.

Where audiometry identifies a significant threshold shift or other concern, Occupational Health will advise on appropriate referral, fitness considerations and any need to review control measures.

Audiometric records are confidential medical records and will be managed by Occupational Health. The Music Centre and University Safety Office may receive management information necessary to review risk controls, but not confidential clinical details unless the individual gives consent or disclosure is otherwise required by law.

Staff are encouraged to report symptoms such as tinnitus, muffled hearing, pain, ringing in the ears or temporary hearing changes following noise exposure.

  1. Training and Awareness

Audience

Requirement

Students and Music Centre members

Awareness of this policy, key noise risks, symptoms of hearing damage, and availability of hearing protection as part of membership information or induction

Music Centre staff

Policy briefing, relevant risk assessments, local controls, incident reporting and correct use of hearing protection

Technical and event staff

Sound level awareness, monitoring arrangements, event controls, equipment set-up, hearing protection zones and escalation arrangements

Visiting performers, tutors and contractors

Pre-arrival information where relevant, and local briefing by the Music Centre host or event lead

Front-of-house staff

Hearing protection availability, audience communication, event escalation routes and action to take if sound levels appear excessive

 

  1. Monitoring and Review

The effectiveness of this policy will be monitored through:

  • Review of noise risk assessments and associated action plans
  • Spot-check monitoring or dosimetry of representative activities where required
  • Review of incidents, near misses, complaints and reported hearing symptoms
  • Feedback from staff, students, performers, event staff and visitors
  • Occupational Health management information, where available and appropriate
  • Review of changes to rooms, equipment, activities, staffing or event types

This policy will be formally reviewed at least every two years, or sooner where there is a significant change, incident, complaint, change in legislation, updated HSE guidance or evidence that existing arrangements may no longer be effective.

  1. Compliance

All staff, students, visitors, performers, tutors and contractors are expected to follow reasonable instructions given under this policy.

Where non-compliance is identified, the response will be proportionate to the level of risk and the circumstances. This may include:

  • Informal reminder, advice or additional instruction
  • Formal written instruction or escalation to the relevant manager, academic lead or event organiser
  • Restriction of access to high-noise areas, activities or facilities
  • Action under relevant University procedures where there is serious, repeated or wilful non-compliance

Visitors, performers, contractors or audience members who refuse to follow reasonable safety instructions may be required to leave the premises.

  1. Communication

This policy and supporting information will be communicated through:

  • Publication on the Music Centre website
  • Membership information and student induction material
  • Staff induction and local training arrangements
  • Pre-event or pre-arrival information for visiting performers, tutors and contractors where relevant
  • Posters or signage in rehearsal, practice, technical and performance spaces
  • Clear identification of hearing protection locations and hearing protection zones where applicable
  • Availability in alternative formats on request
  1. Related Documents

July 2026