Toolbox talk: noise
This is a ready-to-give toolbox talk on noise at work. Keep it to about five to ten minutes, run it before the work starts, and make it about the noisy tools and plant being used on this site today. Use it as a script, adjust it to the job, and take questions at the end.
Why this matters
Noise on a building site does damage you cannot see or feel until it is too late. Breakers, cut-off saws, grinders and cartridge tools are all loud enough to harm hearing, and the damage builds up quietly over years. The result is permanent hearing loss and tinnitus, the constant ringing that never stops. There is no cure and no getting it back. The point of this talk is that the crew still have their hearing when they finish in the trade.
The main risks on the job
- Loud power tools, breakers, cut-off saws, grinders, drills and cartridge tools.
- Plant and equipment running close by.
- Long exposure, being in the noise for much of the day.
- Other people's noisy work near where you are, not just your own.
- Sudden impact noise, which can damage hearing in an instant.
What you must do
- Reduce the noise at source first. Use quieter methods and equipment where you can, keep people away from the noisiest work, and do not leave anyone in the noise longer than needed.
- Wear hearing protection, defenders or plugs, in noisy areas and whenever you use loud tools, and keep it on for the whole task.
- Wear it correctly. Plugs pushed in properly, defenders sealing all the way round, and in good condition.
- Think about others nearby. Warn people before starting noisy work so they can protect themselves or move clear.
- Use the shout test. If you have to raise your voice to be understood about two metres away, the noise is a problem and protection is needed.
- Report any hearing concerns and take part in any hearing checks offered.
Key points to remember: hearing loss from noise is permanent, so protect your hearing before it goes, not after. Reduce the noise at source and wear your protection in noisy areas. And if you have to shout to be heard an arm's length away, that is your sign the noise is loud enough to do harm.
Questions to discuss with the crew
- What noisy tools or plant are being used today, and where?
- Who is exposed, including people working nearby who are not doing the noisy work?
- Has everyone got hearing protection, and do they know when to wear it?
- Can any of the noisy work be done a quieter way?
Record the talk
Write down the date, the topic, who gave the talk and who attended, and keep it on file. The record shows the briefing happened, and it is often asked for by the principal contractor or in an investigation after an incident.
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Get started with Site Manager AI Prefer your phone on site? Download Site Manager AI on the App Store.Related: Toolbox talk: PPE, the toolbox talks index, and the COSHH assessment for construction guide.