Noise Risk Assessment Example: A Worked Template for a UK Joinery Workshop

Free noise risk assessment templates are easy to find. What is harder to find is a completed one — a filled-in example that shows what each section actually looks like when the boxes are not empty.

This worked example walks through a noise risk assessment for a small joinery workshop. Every section uses illustrative data so you can see the structure, level of detail, and reasoning that a practical assessment contains. Use it as a reference alongside your own assessment — not as a copy-paste substitute, because your workplace will have different noise sources, exposure patterns, and controls.

This is an illustrative example for a fictional workshop. It is not a template for direct use and is not a substitute for a competent assessment of your own workplace. For guidance on conducting the assessment itself, see How to Complete a Noise Risk Assessment.

The scenario

Business: A small joinery workshop in the West Midlands. 12 workers in five groups: 2 machine operators, 4 bench joiners, 3 assembly and finishing workers, 2 apprentices rotating across all areas, and 1 office-based administrator with occasional workshop access.

Operations: Cutting, planing, routing, sanding, and assembly of bespoke joinery products. Standard shift: 08:00–16:30 with a 30-minute break.

Why the assessment is needed: Multiple powered woodworking machines running throughout the day. The owner-manager cannot hold a normal conversation at 2 metres in the machine area — a rough indicator from HSE guidance that noise levels are likely at or above 85 dB(A).

Section 1: Noise source inventory

Source	Location	Typical level	Operating pattern	Peak events
Circular saw (panel)	Machine shop, bay 1	~97 dB(A)	Intermittent, ~3 hours/day	Short bursts during crosscuts
Planer/thicknesser	Machine shop, bay 2	~93 dB(A)	Intermittent, ~4 hours/day	Feeding start/stop
Spindle moulder/router	Machine shop, bay 3	~96 dB(A)	Intermittent, ~2 hours/day	High-speed passes
Band saw	Machine shop, bay 4	~88 dB(A)	Intermittent, ~2 hours/day	None significant
Belt sander (bench)	Bench area	~87 dB(A)	Intermittent, ~1.5 hours/day	None significant
Orbital sanders (hand)	Assembly area	~83 dB(A)	Intermittent, ~3 hours/day	None significant
Dust extraction system	Ducted, central unit outside	~82 dB(A) at duct openings	Continuous during production hours	None
Compressed air (blowgun)	Throughout workshop	~90 dB(A) at 1m	Occasional, short bursts	Peak ~130 dB(C) during bursts

Noise levels here are estimated from manufacturer declarations and HSE published benchmarks for woodworking equipment, not from a formal survey with calibrated instruments. A workplace with levels this close to and above the upper action values should consider a formal measurement survey for defensible evidence — see the discussion of when to use measurement vs estimation in UK Workplace Noise Exposure Limits.

Section 2: Worker exposure mapping

Worker group	Noise sources	Estimated daily duration near source	Estimated LEP,d	Action value reached
Machine operators (2)	Circular saw, planer, router, band saw, dust extraction	~7 hours in machine shop	~93 dB(A)	Upper action values exceeded
Bench joiners (4)	Belt sander, dust extraction, background machine noise	~6 hours in bench area, ~1.5 hours near machines	~88 dB(A)	Upper action values exceeded
Assembly/finishing (3)	Orbital sanders, occasional machine use, dust extraction	~3 hours near machines, ~4 hours in assembly area	~84 dB(A)	Lower action values exceeded
Apprentices (2)	Rotate across all areas	Variable — worst case follows machine operators	~90 dB(A) (worst case)	Upper action values exceeded
Administrator (1)	Office with door closed, occasional workshop visits	~30 minutes/day in workshop	~68 dB(A)	Below all action values

To estimate LEP,d from multiple sources and durations, use the free Noise Exposure Calculator.

Section 3: Comparison against action values

The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 set three thresholds. For each worker group, the assessment records which threshold applies and what duties that triggers.

Worker group	LEP,d estimate	Lower (80 dB(A))	Upper (85 dB(A))	Limit (87 dB(A) with protection)	Duties triggered
Machine operators	~93 dB(A)	Exceeded	Exceeded	Check protection adequacy	Full duties: controls, mandatory HPE, zones, health surveillance, training
Bench joiners	~88 dB(A)	Exceeded	Exceeded	Below with adequate HPE	Full duties as above
Assembly/finishing	~84 dB(A)	Exceeded	Not exceeded	N/A	Assessment, HPE available on request, information and training
Apprentices	~90 dB(A) worst case	Exceeded	Exceeded	Check protection adequacy	Full duties. Additional consideration: young workers may need extra monitoring
Administrator	~68 dB(A)	Not exceeded	Not exceeded	N/A	No noise-specific duties

For a detailed breakdown of what each threshold triggers, see UK Workplace Noise Exposure Limits.

Section 4: Existing controls

Control type	What is in place	Notes
Engineering	Dust extraction ducted outside (reduces dust noise at source). Band saw blade guard acts as partial enclosure.	No other engineering controls for primary machine noise. Circular saw, planer, and router have no enclosures, barriers, or damping.
Administrative	Apprentices rotate weekly between areas. Break room is separated from workshop by fire door.	No formal time limits in the machine shop. No job rotation for machine operators.
Hearing protection	Disposable foam ear plugs available in a wall dispenser at the workshop entrance.	No record of who takes them or when. No fitting guidance. No information on the attenuation rating (SNR) of the plugs provided.
Signage	One "Ear Protection Must Be Worn" sign on the main workshop door.	No hearing protection zone boundaries marked. Sign is faded and partially obscured.
Training	Induction covers noise as part of general H&S. No dedicated noise awareness training.	No records of who received what training or when.
Health surveillance	None in place.	No baseline audiometry for any worker. No follow-up programme.

Section 5: Gaps and action plan

#	Gap identified	Action required	Who	By when	Status
1	No engineering noise controls on primary machines	Investigate enclosures or barriers for circular saw and router. Get quotes from two suppliers. Consult HSE guidance on noise controls.	Workshop manager	8 weeks	Not started
2	Hearing protection is unsuitable — no SNR data, no fitting, no records	Source rated hearing protection (SNR ≥ 25 for machine shop). Implement issue log with name, date, product, and size.	H&S lead	2 weeks	Not started
3	No hearing protection zones marked	Define zone boundaries (machine shop + bench area = above 85 dB(A)). Install compliant signage at all entry points.	H&S lead	3 weeks	Not started
4	No health surveillance	Arrange baseline audiometry for all workers exposed at or above upper action values (machine operators, bench joiners, apprentices). Set up annual follow-up programme.	Owner-manager	6 weeks	Not started
5	No dedicated noise training	Deliver noise awareness training covering: risks, hearing protection use, signs of hearing damage, right to health surveillance. Record attendance.	H&S lead	4 weeks	Not started
6	No review schedule	Set 12-month review date. Define triggers for earlier review (new equipment, layout changes, health surveillance findings).	Owner-manager	1 week	Not started
7	Assessment based on estimates, not measurements	Commission formal noise survey for machine shop and bench area to replace estimates with measured data.	Owner-manager	12 weeks	Not started

Section 6: Health surveillance requirements

Worker group	Audiometry required?	Baseline test	Follow-up interval
Machine operators	Yes — upper action values exceeded	Within 6 weeks (action #4)	Annually for first 2 years, then as advised by OH provider
Bench joiners	Yes — upper action values exceeded	Within 6 weeks	As above
Apprentices	Yes — upper action values exceeded on machine days	Within 6 weeks	As above, with additional monitoring for young workers
Assembly/finishing	Not currently required — below upper action values	N/A	Reassess if exposure changes
Administrator	No	N/A	N/A

Section 7: Review schedule and sign-off

• Assessment date: [date of assessment]
• Assessed by: [name, role, competence basis]
• Next scheduled review: 12 months from assessment date
• Early review triggers: New machinery, changes to workshop layout, changes to shift patterns, health surveillance results showing hearing deterioration, any worker complaint about noise

What this noise risk assessment example shows — and what to adapt

This worked example covers a specific scenario. Your assessment will differ in the details, but the structure applies to any workplace with regular noise exposure:

1. Inventory every source — not just the obvious machines. Dust extraction, compressed air, and background noise all contribute.
2. Map workers to sources and durations — the assessment is about people, not just equipment.
3. Compare against all three thresholds — not just the upper values. Workers between 80 and 85 dB(A) still trigger duties.
4. Record what you already have in place — this is the section most blank templates skip, and it is where most assessments are weakest.
5. Write specific actions with owners and deadlines — "improve hearing protection" is not an action. "Source rated HPE with SNR ≥ 25, implement issue log, complete by [date]" is.

For guidance on evaluating and choosing a template for your own assessment, see What to Look for in a Noise Risk Assessment Template. To structure your assessment now, try the free Noise Risk Assessment Starter Template.

For the full regulatory framework behind these requirements, see UK Noise at Work Regulations: The Complete Employer Guide.

Sources

• The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 — legislation.gov.uk
• How do I assess the risks? — HSE
• Noise at work: regulations — HSE
• L108: Controlling Noise at Work (3rd edition, 2021) — HSE