How to Run a Workplace Noise Check | UniFirst

Walk through a busy manufacturing facility, and you will hear plenty of noise. Machines are running, forklifts are moving materials, and employees are working with power tools. After a while, these sounds can become part of the daily routine. But how do you know when the noise is more than just a normal part of the job?

A simple workplace noise check can help you spot potential problems before they become bigger concerns. It gives your safety team a starting point for identifying noisy areas, checking sound levels, and deciding whether a closer assessment is needed. UniFirst First Aid + Safety is another resource businesses can explore when reviewing their workplace safety needs.

To run a workplace noise check, walk through the facility during normal operations, identify noisy tasks, measure sound levels with a suitable meter, and record what you find. Pay attention to how long employees spend around noisy equipment, not just how loud an area sounds. If your initial checks raise concerns, arrange a more detailed noise assessment and review your hearing protection practices.

1. Why Should You Check Workplace Noise?

When you work around the same equipment every day, loud sounds can start to feel normal. Employees may stop noticing how much noise a compressor, production line, or forklift creates. That doesn't mean their hearing is protected.

Long-term exposure to excessive noise can damage hearing. It can also make it harder for employees to hear instructions, communicate with coworkers, or notice important warning signals.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recommends limiting occupational noise exposure to 85 A-weighted decibels (dBA) over an eight-hour workday. OSHA's general industry standard also uses an eight-hour time-weighted average of 85 dBA as the action level for its hearing conservation program. These benchmarks help safety teams decide when exposure needs closer attention.

You can review NIOSH's noise guidance and OSHA's occupational noise standard for more information.

A workplace noise check is a useful first step, especially if:

• Employees need to raise their voices to talk over machinery.

• Forklifts, trucks, or other vehicles operate throughout the shift.

• Workers use power tools or other loud equipment.

• Employees report ringing in their ears or difficulty hearing conversations.

• New equipment has been installed.

• Production schedules or work processes have changed.

These signs don't automatically mean a workplace is out of compliance. They do tell you when it's worth taking a closer look.

2. What Equipment Do You Need for a Workplace Noise Check?

You don't need a complicated setup to get started. A few basic tools can help you organize your walkthrough and identify areas that may need further testing.

A phone app may be useful for an initial screening. For example, the NIOSH Sound Level Meter App offers noise measurement features and educational guidance. NIOSH lists the app for iOS devices.

Keep in mind that a phone app is not a replacement for professional noise monitoring. Microphone quality, background noise, and the way measurements are taken can affect the results. When you need to assess employee exposure or make compliance decisions, use appropriate calibrated equipment and qualified professionals.

3. How to Run a Simple Workplace Noise Check Step by Step

A useful noise check doesn't have to be complicated. The key is to follow the same basic process, document what you observe, and know when a simple check isn't enough.

Step 1: Walk Through the Facility

Start by identifying the areas where noise could be a concern.

In a manufacturing plant, you might check production lines, cutting stations, air compressors, and packaging equipment. In a warehouse, focus on loading docks, forklift routes, conveyor belts, and areas where trucks operate.

Look at individual tasks, too. Two employees working in the same room may have different noise exposures because one operates a machine for most of the shift while the other spends only a few minutes nearby.

Make a list of the areas you want to check. Note the equipment in use and the jobs employees perform there.

Step 2: Check Noise During Normal Operations

Timing matters. If you check a production floor before the machines start, you won't get a realistic picture of the noise employees experience during a busy shift.

Whenever possible, observe the facility while work is happening as usual. Check whether noise changes when several machines run together, when trucks arrive, or when employees use power tools.

Watch for signs such as:

• Employees raising their voices to communicate at close range.

• Several noisy machines running at the same time.

• Sudden or sharp sounds during a task.

• Workers moving between quieter and louder areas.

• Employees reporting difficulty hearing instructions.

These observations help you decide where to take measurements first. They can't tell you the actual noise exposure level on their own.

Step 3: Measure the Sound Level

Use a suitable sound level meter or measurement tool to check the areas you've identified.

Follow the device instructions and choose the appropriate measurement setting. Take readings at representative locations, including where employees normally stand while operating equipment. Unless the measurement procedure calls for it, don't place the microphone directly against a machine.

For each reading, record the location, time, equipment in operation, and task being performed.

For example, you might measure the sound near an air compressor while it's running and repeat the check when production is busier. Comparing the results can help you understand how operating conditions affect noise levels.

Remember, a single reading only tells you about the sound measured at that moment. It doesn't show the full amount of noise an employee experiences over an entire shift.

Step 4: Identify Areas That Need a Closer Look

Once you have your readings, review them alongside the tasks employees perform and the time they spend in each area.

Pay particular attention to readings around or above 85 dBA. These results should prompt a closer review of employee exposure and whether formal monitoring is needed. Lower readings don't automatically mean a job is safe, especially if noise changes throughout the day.

Under OSHA's general industry standard, employers must conduct noise monitoring when available information indicates that employee exposure may equal or exceed an eight-hour time-weighted average of 85 dBA.

If necessary, arrange a more complete assessment that looks at employees' exposure throughout the workday rather than relying only on individual spot readings.

Step 5: Record What You Find

Don't rely on memory to keep track of your results. A simple checklist makes it easier to review findings, assign follow-up tasks, and compare conditions during future checks.

Here's an example of how your records might look:

These are examples, not actual measurement results. Record your facility's readings and observations so your team can make decisions based on real conditions.

Step 6: Review the Findings With Your Safety Team

After the walkthrough, sit down with your facility manager, EHS coordinator, or occupational safety professional to review the results.

Discuss which areas need more detailed monitoring, whether equipment or work practices can reduce noise, and whether hearing protection or employee training needs to be reviewed.

If you need guidance on using a phone-based tool for an initial check, read the NIOSH sound level meter app article.

The goal is to turn your observations into clear next steps rather than simply collecting numbers.

4. What Should You Do if Workplace Noise Is Too High?

Finding a noisy area is only part of the job. Once you identify a concern, look at what can be changed to reduce employees' exposure.

Start by considering the source of the noise. Depending on the equipment and work process, possible improvements include:

• Maintaining machinery to reduce unnecessary noise.

• Replacing noisy equipment with quieter alternatives when practical.

• Installing suitable acoustic barriers or enclosures.

• Increasing the distance between employees and noisy equipment.

• Reducing unnecessary time spent in high-noise areas.

• Reviewing hearing protection practices and employee training.

Hearing protection is an important part of workplace safety, but it shouldn't automatically be the only solution.

OSHA's general industry standard requires feasible engineering or administrative controls when applicable exposure limits are exceeded. When those controls don't adequately reduce exposure, hearing protection must be used as required by the standard.

If employees need earplugs or earmuffs, choose options suited to the noise environment, fit requirements, and compatibility with other personal protective equipment. Make sure employees understand how to wear and maintain their protection properly.

You can explore hearing protection products and resources to learn more about options for workplace hearing safety.

5. How Often Should You Check Workplace Noise?

There isn't one schedule that works for every workplace. A small office, a busy warehouse, and a manufacturing plant may have very different noise concerns.

A practical approach is to include noise observations in routine safety walkthroughs and arrange additional checks whenever work conditions change.

Consider reviewing noise levels when:

• New machinery or production lines are introduced.

• Equipment maintenance changes how a machine operates.

• Employees move to different work areas.

• Production volume or operating hours increase.

• Workers raise new hearing or communication concerns.

• Existing controls or hearing protection may no longer be adequate.

OSHA's general industry standard requires repeat monitoring when changes in production, processes, equipment, or controls may expose additional employees at or above the action level or make existing hearing protection inadequate.

Keep previous monitoring results available. Comparing older and newer records can help your team spot changes, review corrective actions, and determine whether another assessment is needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the easiest way to check workplace noise?

Start with a walkthrough and identify tasks that seem especially noisy. Use a suitable sound level meter to check representative areas, then record the readings and operating conditions. If the results suggest potentially hazardous exposure, arrange a more complete assessment. A walkthrough or phone app can help with screening, but it cannot replace formal exposure monitoring when required.

2. At what noise level should a workplace investigate hearing risks?

An eight-hour time-weighted average of 85 dBA is an important benchmark under OSHA's general industry hearing conservation requirements. NIOSH also recommends limiting occupational noise exposure to 85 dBA over eight hours. A single spot reading doesn't represent a full shift, so concerning readings should be reviewed in the context of employee exposure.

3. Can I use a phone app to measure workplace noise?

Yes. A suitable app can help you get an initial idea of noise levels in different areas. The NIOSH Sound Level Meter App provides measurement and educational features for iOS devices. However, microphone performance and measurement conditions can affect results. Use appropriate calibrated equipment and qualified professionals when accurate exposure assessments or compliance decisions are needed.

4. What should I record during a workplace noise check?

Record the date, time, work area, equipment in operation, sound level readings, and relevant observations. Include the task being performed and how long employees spend in the area, where known. Also document follow-up actions. These records help safety teams identify patterns, compare conditions, and decide whether more detailed monitoring is needed.

5. When should a business review its hearing protection program?

Review the program when measurements suggest potential exposure concerns, equipment or work processes change, employees report hearing-related concerns, or existing hearing protection may no longer be adequate. OSHA requirements may also trigger noise monitoring, training, hearing protection, and audiometric testing, depending on employee exposure and the applicable standard.

Next Step

A workplace noise check gives your safety team a practical way to spot concerns and decide what to do next. Start by identifying noisy tasks, recording your observations, and reviewing whether a more detailed assessment is needed. When you have a clearer picture of the facility, you can make better-informed decisions about equipment, work practices, and hearing protection. UniFirst First Aid + Safety can help you explore hearing protection resources and discuss options for reviewing noise concerns at your facility.

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