Product Overview

Summary: This Noise Vibration Harshness (NVH) Diagnosis Safe Operating Procedure provides a structured, repeatable process for identifying and managing noise and vibration issues in plant, vehicles and equipment. It helps Australian businesses protect workers from excessive noise and hand–arm or whole-body vibration while improving asset performance and compliance with WHS obligations.

Noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) issues are often treated as minor comfort complaints, yet in an Australian workplace context they can be key contributors to noise-induced hearing loss, musculoskeletal disorders and reduced equipment life. This NVH Diagnosis Safe Operating Procedure sets out a clear, end‑to‑end method for assessing, diagnosing and documenting NVH problems in vehicles, mobile plant, fixed machinery and building services equipment. It guides workers through pre‑assessment checks, the correct use of diagnostic tools, safe testing practices, and the interpretation and recording of results, all within the framework of WHS legislation and relevant Australian Standards.

By implementing this SOP, organisations can systematically identify excessive noise and vibration at their source, prioritise corrective actions, and demonstrate a defensible risk management approach to regulators and workers alike. The procedure supports both safety and operational outcomes: reducing exposure to harmful noise and vibration, improving operator comfort and productivity, and minimising unplanned downtime caused by undiagnosed mechanical faults. It is particularly valuable for businesses operating fleets, workshops or high‑duty plant where NVH complaints are frequent and the line between comfort issue and safety risk must be clearly defined and consistently managed.

Key Benefits

• Ensure consistent, defensible NVH assessments aligned with Australian WHS requirements.
• Reduce worker exposure to excessive noise and vibration, lowering the risk of long‑term health impacts.
• Improve reliability of vehicles and plant by detecting mechanical faults early through structured NVH diagnosis.
• Streamline communication between operators, maintenance teams and management with standardised reporting and sign‑off.
• Support easier compliance demonstrations during audits, regulator inspections and workers’ compensation claims.

Who is this for?

• WHS Managers
• Maintenance Supervisors
• Fleet Managers
• Workshop Managers
• Plant Mechanics and Fitters
• Automotive Technicians
• Engineering Managers
• Facilities Managers
• Rail and Bus Depot Supervisors
• Mining and Quarry Maintenance Coordinators

Hazards Addressed

• Excessive occupational noise leading to noise-induced hearing loss
• Hand–arm vibration exposure from powered hand tools and equipment
• Whole-body vibration exposure for mobile plant and vehicle operators
• Mechanical failures caused by undiagnosed vibration (e.g. bearing or drivetrain failure)
• Ergonomic strain and fatigue from harshness and resonance during equipment operation
• Secondary risks during testing such as pinch points, moving parts and hot surfaces

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions – Noise, Vibration and Harshness (NVH) Terminology
• 3.0 Roles and Responsibilities
• 4.0 Applicable Legislation, Standards and Codes of Practice
• 5.0 Competency, Training and Authorisation Requirements
• 6.0 Tools, Instrumentation and Calibration Requirements
• 7.0 Pre‑Assessment Planning and Risk Assessment
• 8.0 NVH Complaint Intake and Triage Process
• 9.0 Safe Setup of Plant, Vehicles and Test Environment
• 10.0 Noise Measurement Procedure
• 11.0 Vibration Measurement Procedure (Hand–Arm and Whole‑Body)
• 12.0 Harshness Assessment and Subjective Evaluation
• 13.0 Data Interpretation, Diagnosis and Fault Identification
• 14.0 Control Measures, Corrective Actions and Follow‑Up
• 15.0 PPE Requirements and Exposure Control Strategies
• 16.0 Documentation, Reporting and Recordkeeping
• 17.0 Communication with Workers and Consultation Requirements
• 18.0 Emergency and Abnormal Condition Response
• 19.0 Review, Continuous Improvement and Re‑assessment Triggers

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) and harmonised state and territory WHS Acts
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 – Noise and hazardous manual tasks provisions
• Safe Work Australia – Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss at Work Code of Practice
• Safe Work Australia – Hazardous Manual Tasks Code of Practice (for vibration-related musculoskeletal risks)
• AS/NZS 1269 series: Occupational noise management
• AS/NZS 2399: Specification for hand-transmitted vibration measuring instruments
• AS ISO 5349 series: Mechanical vibration – Measurement and evaluation of human exposure to hand-transmitted vibration
• AS 2670 series: Evaluation of human exposure to whole-body vibration
• AS/NZS 4801: Occupational health and safety management systems (superseded but still widely referenced)
• ISO 10816 / ISO 20816 series: Mechanical vibration – Evaluation of machine vibration (as good-practice references)