Product Overview

Summary: This Noise Pollution Control Safe Operating Procedure sets out a clear, practical framework for identifying, assessing and controlling workplace noise in line with Australian WHS requirements. It helps organisations protect workers from noise-induced hearing loss, manage community noise impacts and demonstrate due diligence to regulators and clients.

Excessive workplace noise is one of the most common – and most underestimated – hazards across Australian industries, from construction and manufacturing to logistics, mining and events. Uncontrolled noise can lead to permanent hearing damage, reduced concentration, communication difficulties, increased incident rates and complaints from neighbours or the community. This Noise Pollution Control Safe Operating Procedure provides a structured, end‑to‑end approach to managing noise risks, ensuring your business meets its duties under WHS legislation while maintaining productivity and good community relations.

The SOP guides you through practical steps for identifying noisy tasks and equipment, conducting or commissioning noise assessments, applying the hierarchy of control to reduce noise at the source, and implementing effective hearing protection where required. It also covers communication with workers, training, health surveillance (including audiometric testing), and processes for responding to noise complaints and regulatory inspections. Designed for the Australian context, this procedure helps you embed noise control into daily operations, allowing supervisors and managers to make consistent, defensible decisions about work planning, equipment selection and exposure limits.

By adopting this SOP, organisations can standardise how noise is managed across multiple sites, reduce the risk of costly workers compensation claims, and demonstrate compliance with relevant Australian Standards and Codes of Practice. It becomes a core reference document for onboarding new staff, briefing contractors, and evidencing your noise management system to auditors, clients and regulators.

Key Benefits

• Ensure compliance with Australian WHS legislation and noise-related Codes of Practice, reducing regulatory and legal risk.
• Reduce the likelihood of noise-induced hearing loss and related workers compensation claims through systematic hazard control.
• Standardise how noise is identified, assessed and controlled across sites, improving consistency and accountability.
• Improve worker communication, concentration and overall safety by minimising excessive background noise.
• Strengthen relationships with neighbours and the community by managing environmental noise and responding effectively to complaints.

Who is this for?

• WHS Managers
• Health and Safety Advisors
• Operations Managers
• Site Supervisors
• Facility Managers
• Construction Project Managers
• Manufacturing Plant Managers
• Maintenance Supervisors
• Environmental and Sustainability Managers
• HR and Training Managers

Hazards Addressed

• Excessive occupational noise exposure leading to noise-induced hearing loss
• Acute hearing damage from sudden high-noise events (e.g. impact tools, alarms, explosions)
• Communication failures and misunderstanding of verbal instructions in noisy environments
• Increased risk of incidents due to reduced situational awareness and inability to hear warning signals
• Stress, fatigue and reduced wellbeing associated with prolonged exposure to high noise levels
• Community disturbance and complaints from off-site noise emissions

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Abbreviations
• 3.0 Applicable Legislation, Standards and Codes of Practice
• 4.0 Roles and Responsibilities (PCBUs, Officers, Managers, Supervisors, Workers, Contractors)
• 5.0 Noise Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment Process
• 6.0 Noise Measurement and Monitoring Requirements
• 7.0 Noise Control Measures and Hierarchy of Control
• 8.0 Selection, Use and Maintenance of Hearing Protection
• 9.0 Training, Induction and Communication Requirements
• 10.0 Health Monitoring and Audiometric Testing
• 11.0 Planning of Noisy Works and Scheduling Controls
• 12.0 Management of Contractor and Visitor Exposure
• 13.0 Environmental and Community Noise Management (Off-site Impacts)
• 14.0 Incident, Complaint and Non-conformance Management
• 15.0 Recordkeeping and Documentation
• 16.0 Audit, Review and Continuous Improvement
• 17.0 References and Associated Documents
• Appendix A – Example Noise Risk Assessment Checklist
• Appendix B – Sample Noise Monitoring Log
• Appendix C – Hearing Protection Selection Guide
• Appendix D – Toolbox Talk Template: Noise and Hearing Protection

Legislation & References

• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing noise and preventing hearing loss at work
• Model Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) and equivalent state and territory WHS Acts
• Model Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 – Part 4.1 Hazardous work (Noise)
• AS/NZS 1269.1: Occupational noise management – Measurement and assessment of noise immission and exposure
• AS/NZS 1269.2: Occupational noise management – Noise control management
• AS/NZS 1269.3: Occupational noise management – Hearing protector program
• AS/NZS 1269.4: Occupational noise management – Auditory assessment
• AS/NZS 1270: Acoustics – Hearing protectors
• AS/NZS ISO 9612: Acoustics – Determination of occupational noise exposure – Engineering method