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Protection Against the Effects of Noise eLearning
Online noise at work training that explains the exposure limits, why hearing loss is permanent, and how hearing protection only works if it is worn properly and all of the time.
Who it is for
Who this noise awareness course is for
Noise-induced hearing loss builds up quietly over years and cannot be reversed. It affects anyone working near machinery, power tools or loud processes, and the damage is done long before anyone notices it.
- Manufacturing, engineering and workshop staff
- Construction and demolition operatives
- Woodworking, metalworking and fabrication workers
- Agricultural and groundcare workers
- Events, entertainment and hospitality staff
- Supervisors responsible for hearing protection zones
- Anyone whose workplace has a noise risk assessment
Course content
What the noise course covers
Five short lessons covering how hearing fails, recognising a noise problem, action values and limits, control and hearing protection, and health surveillance, then a 12-question assessment.
How hearing works and fails
How noise damages hearing, tinnitus, and how decibels work.
Recognising a noise problem
The 2-metre shout test, and tools and tasks that are typically noisy.
Action values and limits
Lower and upper action values, the limit value, and peak values.
Control at source, then hearing protection
Quieter tools, enclosures, distance and time; then hearing protection, fitting, wearing it all the time, and overprotection.
Health surveillance
Audiometry, what results mean, and reporting symptoms.
Outcomes
What you will be able to do afterwards
- Explain how noise damages hearing and why the damage is permanent
- Recognise when noise may be a problem
- Recall the action values and limits and what they require
- Prefer control at source, and use hearing protection correctly
- Explain health surveillance and report symptoms
Your legal duty
The law behind noise at work training
The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 set exposure action values and exposure limit values, and require employers to assess the risk, eliminate or reduce noise at source, provide hearing protection, and put health surveillance in place where the risk to health remains.
Training is part of that duty. Where employees are exposed at or above the lower exposure action value, the employer must provide suitable and sufficient information, instruction and training. That's what this course delivers at awareness level.
- Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005
- Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 - sections 2 and 7
- Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 - risk assessment
- Separate regulations cover hand-arm and whole-body vibration
Practicalities
How the course works
Would you rather have a tutor?
Where you need face-fit or practical protector training alongside the awareness element, we can deliver that on your site.
For employers
Noise training for a whole site
Hearing protection compliance is a supervision problem as much as a training one. Putting everyone through the same course makes the expectation consistent.
- One invoice instead of a card payment per person
- Licences allocated as people join, so induction is covered
- Completion and expiry reporting alongside your health surveillance records
- Renewal reminders before certificates lapse
- Bespoke versions built around your own noise assessment and zones
Protection Against the Effects of Noise eLearning: common questions
Where employees are exposed at or above the lower exposure action value, the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 require the employer to provide information, instruction and training. This course covers the awareness element of that.
The Regulations set lower and upper daily action values and an exposure limit value, each triggering different duties. The course explains what each one requires rather than expecting people to memorise numbers.
No, and the course is direct about that. Protection is the last line. The Regulations require noise to be eliminated or reduced at source first, because protectors only work when worn correctly and continuously.
Yes. Noise-induced hearing loss and tinnitus cannot be repaired. That is the single most important message of the course.
About 30 to 45 minutes, with no time limit. The certificate is issued as soon as you pass the end assessment.
Yes. Open a business account and we invoice you for the licences, which you allocate as people join, with completion reporting included.
Yes. It runs in a browser on any modern phone, tablet or computer, with nothing to install.
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