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Noise Exposure Calculator
Free workplace noise exposure calculator. Enter noise levels in dB(A) and exposure durations to calculate your daily personal noise exposure (LEP,d), percentage of daily dose, and compare against OSHA PEL (90 dB), UK HSE (85 dB), and EU Directive 2003/10/EC (80/85 dB) limits.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UK legal noise limit at work?
Under the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005, UK employers must take action at 80 dB(A) daily or weekly exposure (lower action value) and 85 dB(A) (upper action value). At 85 dB(A), hearing protection must be provided. At 87 dB(A) (exposure limit value), no worker may be exposed even with PPE. These align with EU Directive 2003/10/EC.
How does the OSHA noise standard differ from HSE?
OSHA sets the permissible exposure limit (PEL) at 90 dB(A) as an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA), with action level at 85 dB(A) (triggering hearing conservation programs). The UK HSE and EU set lower limits: action at 80 dB(A), mandatory protection at 85 dB(A). OSHA uses a 5 dB exchange rate (each 5 dB doubling halves allowable time), while HSE uses a 3 dB exchange rate (the equal energy principle).
How do I calculate noise dose from multiple tasks?
Add the fractional doses from each task: Dose = (T1/L1 + T2/L2 + ...) × 100%, where T is actual exposure time and L is the allowed time at that dB level. If total dose exceeds 100%, the daily limit is exceeded. Our calculator does this automatically.
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