Noise Risk in the Workplace
Professional solutions in building and environmental acoustics
Professional solutions in building and environmental acoustics
The Consolidated Law on Safety establishes in Art. 181 that the employer must assess all risks from exposure to physical agents. The assessment must be carried out by qualified personnel (TCA: Competent Technician in Acoustics) and indicate the prevention and protection measures to be adopted to ensure the safety of workers.
The TCA prepares the noise risk assessment through professional field sound level measurements. This technical report, which becomes part of the DVR (Risk Assessment Document), evaluates the level of noise exposure during the work shift according to the parameters established by Legislative Decree 81/08.
According to Legislative Decree 81/08 art. 189-190:
• Lower action values: LEX = 80 dB(A), ppeak = 112 Pa
• Upper action values: LEX = 85 dB(A), ppeak = 140 Pa
• Exposure limit values: LEX = 87 dB(A), ppeak = 200 Pa
Beyond these limits, PPE and health surveillance are mandatory.