Certificate of Competence in Workplace Noise Risk Assessment

Cost: £1050 + VAT + £180 Institute of Acoustics registration and exam fees

Includes: Calculator and all course materials 5 bound books

Dates: 01 – 05 November 2010, 28 February – 04 March 2011

Duration: 5 days + 2 hour sessions in the evening on 4 days

Introduction:

The new Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005, implemented on 6 April 2006, have brought the issue of workplace noise once more into sharp focus. In the past, HSE campaigns have emphasised the need for practical training in all aspects of noise and vibration control, and the situation has become much more critical now that the new regulations are in force.

The Certificate of Competence in Workplace Noise Risk Assessment is validated by the Institute of Acoustics. It has been designed to address the legal and practical aspects of noise control in the workplace, with a nationally recognised qualification. This course will cover regulations 4, 5, and 7 of the Control of Noise at Work Regulations, 2005.

Course objectives/key benefits:

On completion delegates will be able to:

• Understand the legal requirements of noise in the workplace
• Measure and assess noise and exposure levels in the workplace and report and record findings
• Assess the daily exposure of employees, from information about measured noise levels and work patterns and to identify, record and draw up reports on situations where noise hazards exist
• Select suitable and effective hearing protections
• Learn basic noise control techniques and identify areas where noise reduction is required
• Assess the effectiveness of any noise control measures

Who the course is aimed at:

• Primarily health and safety managers and related personnel
• Anyone concerned with acoustics/noise will find the course fascinating and a worthwhile experience
• This course provides a quick way of entering the field of applied acoustics

Course content:

Day 1:

• Basic acoustic concepts
• Principles of sound generation and propagation
• Properties of sound waves and fields
• Range of frequency and level (decibel scale usage and calculation)
• dB(A)
• Leq and noise dosage
• Octave band analysis
• Measurement and instrumentation
• Microphones and signal processing
• Types of sound level meters
• Usage and calibration
• Introduction to modern powerful signal analysers
• Plus tutorial evening session

Day 2:

• Hearing and its protection
• Hearing mechanisms
• Types of hearing loss including noise induced demonstrated by live simulation
• Audiometry
• Personal hearing protection
• Performance and method of selection with live simulation of noise attenuation
• Regulations and the law
• Outline of Health and Safety policy documents
• EC directive
• HSE regulations concerning the protection of hearing at work
• Plus tutorial evening session

Day 3:

• Noise surveys
• Procedures and conduct of surveys
• Checklists and reports
• Practical industrial case studies
• Supervised survey work in various practical workshop locations and in industry (including some additional time on the following days)
• Drawing up reports
• Plus tutorial evening session

Day 4:

• Noise reduction techniques
• Introduction to simple and standard methods of noise attenuation
• Principles of reduction at the source of noise and in the energy transmission path
• Main types of equipment widely used
• Continuous series of live demonstrations of practical techniques
• Measurements of the effectiveness of noise control action
• Plus tutorial evening session

Day 5:

• Revision
• Further development of previous work
• Practical tests if required
• Afternoon: national written examination

Written examination and practical test:

The National written examination takes place on Friday afternoon and the Practical test is usually carried out on Thursday evening.

Course tutor:

Gordon Brown MCIEH MIOA

Training method:

Intense practical workshops.

Course outcome/qualification:

The Institute of Acoustics Certificate of Competence in Workplace Noise Risk Assessment.

Pre-requisite knowledge/qualification:

None, however delegates are required to undertake mathematical calculations.

Recommended follow-up courses:

• Institute of Acoustics Certificate of Competence in Environmental Noise Measurement
• Diploma in Acoustics and Noise Control