The examples show how to apply the four-step risk management process. Use them as a guide only. Managing hazards and risks in your own business may need much more detail.
How Val deals with noise at her warehouse store
Val manages a warehouse store specialising in products for pets and pet grooming. It’s located in a business zone that backs onto residential dwellings.
The feedback Val receives from nearby residents helps her monitor noise. She takes complaints seriously because she knows it can be annoying, impact sleep and cause other health issues. She keeps a complaints log which she always addresses as soon as she can.
By reviewing complaints, Val identifies delivery and waste collection vehicles entering and exiting the rear of her building as the main source of noise.
She puts in place simple changes like asking drivers to pull up directly into receival bays and keeping roller doors closed when not in use. She also makes sure wholesalers and waste transport contractors avoid pick-ups and deliveries when people are more likely at home.
She reads EPA's information about noise. She then asks local council if she can install a noise barrier along the boundary next to the residential homes.
Val is confident other steps she’s taken to control noise are working. For example, she has an airlock system on receival bay doors that reduces noise levels outside the warehouse. It also switches off non-essential equipment at night.
Val and other rostered floor managers also routinely check their dog groomers are wearing hearing protection when they operate powerful hair dryers.
They also monitor the noise levels of their air-conditioning systems, which are maintained to manufacturer’s specifications.
How Peter deals with noise at his waste and recycling facility
Peter manages a waste and recycling facility, which is close to homes and backs onto a nature reserve.
He's noticed increased levels of noise onsite. He has also received some complaints about noise from the local community. Peter is aware he needs to improve how he manages noise from his facility. He takes these complaints seriously because excessive noise can cause sleep disturbance, hypertension and heart disease. It can also disturb local wildlife.
Peter reviews the complaints and thinks about the noisy activities onsite. He finds that waste delivery and collection trucks entering and exiting the facility from the side boundary is the main noise source.
He reads EPA's information about noise for ideas on how to reduce the impacts of noise. Peter decides to install a noise barrier along the side boundary to reduce noise neighbours hear. There’s already a tall brick fence along the back boundary near the nature reserve. This fence reduces noise heard outside his facility.
Peter realises that avoiding pickups and deliveries when people are likely to be at home, such as early mornings, evenings and weekends, could further reduce noise complaints. He speaks with waste transport contractors to make this happen.
Peter and his team regularly assess all parts of the facility for excessive noise. Their vehicles, machinery and equipment rarely cause problems because they maintain the equipment and machinery to manufacturer's specifications. They also record the maintenance activities in the register.
Read more about noise
About managing noise hazards and risks
What you can do to prevent harm from noise
Respond to a noise incident or complaint
Site planning and management (publication 1884)
Acoustic louvres (publication 1885)
Barriers and enclosures (publication 1886)
Duct attenuators/silencers (publication 1887)
Mufflers/exhaust silencers (publication 1888)
Pipe lagging (publication 1889)
Manage noise from reverse beepers (publication 1890)
Manage truck noise (publication 1891)
Vibration isolation (publication 1892)
Reviewed 19 April 2021
