29 January 2025

Noise breaches up 35% on construction sites

The Building Safety Group (BSG) has reported a 35% increase in the number of noise infringements occurring on construction sites. BSG’s statistic came to light after comparing the number of noise breaches recorded in 2023 with those documented in 2024.

BSG’s report is concerning when some 17,000 people in the UK suffer deafness, ringing in the ears or other ear conditions caused by excessive noise at work.

Noise exposure

Exposure to high noise levels can cause permanent hearing damage for construction workers, without the sufferer becoming aware of the problem until it’s
too late. It can often lead to tinnitus or even deafness. Noise can also be a serious safety hazard at work, interfering with communication and making warnings harder to hear.

The HSE estimates that more than 2 million people in Great Britain were exposed to unacceptable levels of noise at work.

Noise induced hearing loss is the second most common reason for employers’ liabilities claims for Occupational Health.

Court cases

Two recent court cases have seen construction companies heavily penalised for noise violations. Soldi Investments Ltd was fined £12,835 for failing to comply with a Control of Pollution Act notice to control noise during the construction of a store in 2023. Westway Construction was ordered to pay £5000 following reports that builders had been carrying out noisy and heavy-duty building works at a site on Newport Road, Hayes. (See ‘Court Cases’ p. 26 for further details).

Cumulative effect

Andy Harper, Head of Technical and CDM Support for the Building Safety Group commented: “Exposure to many different sources of noise on a construction site has a cumulative effect and can cause irreparable damage, even if a worker is only exposed to a single source for short periods of time.”

Workers at risk

Andy added: “Workers are also at risk if they have muffled hearing at the end of the day, even if it is better by the next morning. There is no need for hearing to be damaged – under the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005, employers have a duty to protect workers and take steps to reduce the risk.”