Noise Risk Assessment (NRA)

Overview

Noise can be derived from various work processes and machineries. A noisy work environment can not only harm or impair employees’ hearing, it also contributes to workplace stress.

The Department of Occupational Safety & Health (DOSH), Malaysia through the Occupational Safety & Health (Noise Exposure) Regulation 2019, enforces the requirement for safe noise levels in a workplace. Under the said Regulation, any employer of a workplace shall carry out a Noise Risk Assessment (NRA) to identify if his/her employee is likely to be exposed to excessive noise.

The main objectives of carrying out Noise Risk Assessment are to determine the measurement of area exposed to excessive noise, noise contour, personal noise exposure monitoring and recommend appropriate control measure. 

Wide banner Noise Risk Assessment (NRA)

The noise exposure limits as per the Occupational Safety & Health (Noise Exposure) Regulations 2019 requires that no employees is exposed to :

  • The daily noise exposure level exceeding 85dB(A) or daily personal noise dose exceeding 100%
  • The maximum sound pressure level exceeding 115dB(A) at any time;OR
  • The peak sound pressure level exceeding 140dB(C)

At MESH, our team of DOSH Registered Noise Risk Assessors are ready to assist your organization in carrying out :

  1. Initial Noise Monitoring or Area Monitoring
  2. Personal Noise Monitoring
  3. On-site audiometric testing.
  4. Hearing Conservation Programme (HCP) Training

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Noise Risk Assessment (NRA)?

An NRA identifies work areas and employees likely to be exposed to excessive noise, measuring noise levels, noise contours and personal noise exposure so employers can implement the right controls to protect workers’ hearing.

Yes. Under the Occupational Safety and Health (Noise Exposure) Regulations 2019, every employer must carry out a Noise Risk Assessment if there’s reason to believe employees are exposed to noise at or above the 82 dB(A) Leq(8hr) action level.

Only a DOSH-registered Noise Risk Assessor can carry out an NRA. MESH’s team of registered Noise Risk Assessors handle initial/area monitoring, personal noise monitoring, audiometric testing coordination, and Hearing Conservation Programme implementation.

An NRA is valid for up to 5 years, subject to no significant change in the workplace. However, an annual review is still required using Appendix 1 of the Industry Code of Practice (ICOP) for Management of Occupational Noise Exposure and Hearing Conservation’s Noise Identification Checklist.

No employee should be exposed to: daily noise exposure exceeding 85dB(A) or a daily personal noise dose exceeding 100%; a maximum sound pressure level exceeding 115dB(A) at any time; or a peak sound pressure level exceeding 140dB(C).

An HCP combines noise monitoring, hearing protection, employee training and audiometric testing to prevent hearing damage. It’s required once employee noise exposure reaches the 82 dB(A) action level.

A baseline test within 3 months of an employee starting work in a noise-exposed area, then annually after that, always conducted after the employee has had at least 14 hours in a quiet environment without hearing protection.

Area/initial monitoring maps ambient noise levels and noise contours across the workplace to flag high-risk zones. Personal noise monitoring measures an individual employee’s actual noise dose over a working day via a dosimeter.

Non-compliance can carry fines of up to RM500,000, imprisonment of up to two years, or both, following the 2022 amendment to the OSH Act, on top of the risk of noise-induced hearing loss among workers and DOSH enforcement action.

Pricing is quote-based. Download and complete our Checklist for Identification of Excessive Noise for each work unit, along with your machinery/layout drawings, and we’ll provide a free NRA quotation within 24 hours.

We provide NRA quotation within 24 hours.

  1. Download and fill Checklist for Identification of Excessive Noise.  (Fill for each work units (e.g manufacturing, packing, warehouse, workshop etc)
  2. Prepare your machinery/equipment/factory layout drawings
  3. Upload them here and fill up your details