The focus of the new Noise at Work Regulations 2005 is for the employer to take action to manage the risk of noise through good practice and controls instead of getting tied up with exposure calculations. The latest HSE guidance contains a list of simple tests that employers can use to make a rough estimate to discover whether they have a noise risk and if they need to do a full noise risk assessment. One of these noise hazard tests is:

"If conversation at 2 m is possible, but the noise is intrusive for more than about six hours per day the noise level is probably 80 dB or more"

However, what is intrusive to one person may not be to another, for example a work area radio playing in the background may be intrusive to some workers but enjoyable to others.

The Oi noise tool, is a new and simple product created by a safety professional, that solves this problem, just activate and listen, if you can't hear the Oi clearly then the background noise will be above 80dB. The Oi is being used by safety professionals in companies such as NHS, Metronet Rail, Clear Channel and many more>

Supported by London South Bank University		Regional finalist for the British Chamber of Commerce Microsoft Innovation Award 2006
BSIF 2007 Award for Product Innovation www.bsif.co.uk