In many workplaces, noise is simply part of the day-to-day environment. Machinery, tools, motorized equipment and industrial processes can become so familiar that we eventually stop noticing how loud they really are.
Yet repeated or prolonged exposure to high noise levels can have serious consequences for workers’ health and safety.
In Quebec, an estimated 300,000 to 400,000 workers are exposed to noise on the job. More than 10,000 new cases of occupational hearing loss have been reported every year since 2018, making it the second most common occupational disease in Quebec.
The challenge with hearing loss is that it often develops gradually. Early signs can go unnoticed for a long time while the damage continues to build.
And unlike many other workplace injuries, noise-induced hearing loss is irreversible.
It can, however, be prevented.
When does workplace noise become a concern?
Since regulatory changes came into effect in 2023, Quebec’s daily occupational noise exposure limit is 85 dBA over an 8-hour period. A limit of 140 dBC also applies to peak sound pressure levels.
But assessing the risk is not as simple as taking one noise reading at a specific moment.
The duration of exposure, the tasks being performed, the equipment being used and the frequency of exposure all need to be considered.
Two employees working in the same facility may therefore have very different levels of noise exposure depending on their job and daily activities.
The real question is simple:
How much noise are our workers actually exposed to?
How should workplace noise be managed?
An effective prevention approach does not begin with choosing earplugs or earmuffs.
It begins with understanding the risk.
The CNESST structures workplace noise management around three main steps: identify, correct and control.
The idea is straightforward: determine where the risk is, reduce the noise where it is being generated, and then make sure the measures put in place continue to work.
1. Identify work situations that may pose a risk
The first step is to identify situations in which workers may be exposed above the allowable limits.
This can start with something very practical: observing workstations, walking through the workplace, speaking with employees and reviewing the tasks being performed.
The CNESST also recommends a progressive approach, ranging from simplified assessments to more detailed noise measurements when needed.
Noise measurement can then provide a clearer picture of actual exposure and help determine what preventive measures should be implemented.
When regulatory noise measurement is required, it must be carried out according to the standards set out in the regulation, including CSA Z107.56 or ISO 9612, by a person with the appropriate expertise.
2. Correct the problem: reduce noise at the source
Once a risk has been identified, the priority is to eliminate or reduce noise at the source.
Quebec’s Regulation respecting occupational health and safety requires employers to take reasonable measures to reduce noise when designing or modifying a workplace, introducing a new process, or purchasing or replacing equipment.
In practice, this can include:
- choosing quieter equipment;
- replacing noisy machinery;
- maintaining equipment to reduce unnecessary noise;
- making technical modifications;
- enclosing or isolating a noise source;
- soundproofing a room or work area;
- moving or isolating certain workstations.
The prevention logic is important: the first goal is to reduce the noise itself, rather than relying immediately on personal protective equipment.
Section 135 of the regulation specifically refers to measures aimed at reducing noise at the source, limiting its propagation and reducing workers’ exposure.
Where do earplugs and earmuffs fit in?
Hearing protection clearly has an important role to play, but it should not be the starting point.
Hearing protectors become particularly important when exposure limits cannot be met immediately or when workers remain exposed after other preventive measures have been implemented.
In certain situations, the employer must either reduce the worker’s daily exposure time or provide appropriate hearing protection. This may be necessary while corrective measures are being implemented, during equipment repair or maintenance, or when exposure limits cannot otherwise be met.
Choosing hearing protection should never be done randomly.
The level of attenuation, proper fit, the work being performed and the conditions in which the protection will be worn all need to be considered.
3. Control: make sure the measures continue to work
Taking one noise measurement and filing the report away is not enough.
Managing workplace noise also means documenting the actions taken, informing workers and reassessing the risk over time.
When a work situation exceeds the exposure limits, the employer must reassess it every five years to determine whether new reasonable measures are available to eliminate or reduce the noise.
Changes in the workplace must also be considered.
For example, installing a new machine, modifying a process or changing the way work is organized can affect workers’ noise exposure.
When such a change could create a risk of exceeding the exposure limits, the employer must identify it within 30 days and take the steps required by the regulation.
Measure, inform and keep records
The regulation also includes very practical requirements related to documentation and worker communication.
When regulatory noise measurements are carried out, the report must be posted or otherwise communicated no later than 15 days after it is made available to the employer.
It must then remain readily accessible to workers for at least three months.
When hearing protection is mandatory in a specific area, workers must also be clearly informed that it is required.
The employer must also maintain up-to-date information in the prevention program or, where applicable, in a register, including:
- work situations where there is a risk of exceeding exposure limits;
- the date those situations were identified;
- the measures implemented to eliminate or reduce exposure;
- the dates associated with their implementation;
- noise measurement reports.
Keeping this information up to date makes it easier to know what has already been done and, more importantly, whether those measures are still effective.
Not sure where to start?
This is often where noise management becomes more complicated for employers.
Do we need to take measurements? At which workstations? Are our employees exposed above the allowable limits? Can the noise be reduced at the source? Is our hearing protection actually appropriate?
Santinel helps organizations manage workplace noise, from identifying potentially hazardous work situations to conducting measurements and finding ways to reduce workers’ exposure.
Our team can help you better understand your current situation, determine which measures should be prioritized and structure your prevention approach.
→ Learn more about our noise and hearing protection consulting services
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Why is workplace noise and hearing protection training important?
Prevention is not only about equipment and technical controls.
Workers also need to understand the risks they are exposed to and know how to protect themselves properly.
When an employer is required to provide hearing protectors, the regulation also requires theoretical and practical training. This includes the selection and use of hearing protection, proper fitting, inspection, maintenance and the risks associated with noise exposure.
Good training also helps workers understand why certain preventive measures are in place and makes it easier for them to recognize situations that may pose a risk.
Santinel’s Noise and Hearing Protection Training helps participants:
- understand what noise is and how it can affect health;
- recognize common workplace noise hazards;
- understand applicable standards and exposure limits;
- understand the measures that can reduce noise exposure;
- properly use hearing protection equipment.
→ Learn more about our Noise and Hearing Protection Training
Noise and hearing protection – Santinel
What are the signs that a workplace may be too noisy?
It is not always obvious when a more detailed assessment is needed.
However, some situations should raise a red flag:
- workers regularly need to raise their voices to communicate;
- some workstations are clearly louder than others;
- earplugs or earmuffs are already being worn, but no recent assessment has been completed;
- new machinery or processes have been introduced;
- the organization does not know workers’ actual noise exposure levels;
- the last noise assessment was completed several years ago;
- workers are unsure when or how to use their hearing protection.
When in doubt, it is better to get a clearer picture of the situation rather than relying on how loud the workplace seems.
Workplace noise: act before the damage is done
Between 1997 and 2020, 120,000 new cases of occupational hearing loss were reported in Quebec. The broader social costs associated with workplace noise are estimated at approximately $2 billion per year.
But behind those numbers are workers whose hearing can be permanently affected.
Managing workplace noise is therefore about much more than measuring decibels or handing out earplugs.
It means identifying hazardous situations, reducing noise at the source whenever possible, measuring exposure, informing and training workers, documenting the measures taken and regularly reassessing the situation.
Santinel can support your organization at every stage, whether you need to better understand noise exposure in your workplace, identify corrective measures or train your employees.
Need to assess workplace noise exposure in your organization?
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