Laws governing the safety and health of employed people exist in most countries of the world; the purpose being to create a suitable working environment and eliminate unsafe practices and processes. Work areas should be designed and laid out so that they are satisfactory both from the environmental and safety points of view. In this connection safety also implies that noise is kept at a level which is not likely to cause hearing damage.

If this requirement is given due consideration at the planning stages of new production plant and factories, and when replacing existing equipment and
plant, it is nearly always possible to reduce sound from machinery and installations. In existing factories and work areas, significant noise reduction can often be achieved by relatively simple methods.

The safety organisation should be involved on questions of measurement and control of noise in the factory and take part in the planning of new or altered work methods and processes.

A noise control program should involve the following:
1. The preparation of a noise map after making measurements in all areas.
2. The setting of target noise levels for all areas.
3. A description of all measures planned, a cost analysis, and the attenuation
expected.
4. The setting of priorities within a plan to achieve the agreed targets, stating
start and finish times.