Checklist for Identification of Excessive Noise at the Workplace

Excessive noise at the workplace can affect workers’ hearing, communication, concentration, and overall safety. As part of good occupational safety and health practice, employers should carry out a simple initial screening to identify whether a work area may have excessive noise.

This checklist helps employers and safety personnel review common warning signs, such as the need to raise one’s voice during communication, use of noisy machinery or powered tools, worker complaints about noise, ringing in the ears, hearing difficulties, and equipment labels showing high noise levels.

Based on the DOSH checklist, a “Yes” answer to any item may indicate the possibility of excessive noise, and further action such as a proper noise risk assessment may be required.