4 ways to automate a noise risk assessment

#1 - Simple assessment

Who it's for: Single-site businesses recording the noise assessment themselves, where staff work around loud equipment, in cellars, or at events with amplified music.

What it is: A noise risk assessment records where workplace noise could damage hearing, who's exposed and for how long, the controls, and any further action. This version keeps each source in one group: the hazard, who's exposed, controls in place, risk level, and further action. You add one group per source.

Available on: Basic.

In practice: A live-music venue assesses its noise. For "amplified music during gigs", they note who's exposed (bar and security staff near the stage), the controls (rotating positions, hearing protection offered, limiting time near speakers), rate it medium, and the further action: provide moulded ear plugs. Next source, next group.

Why it works: Noise damage is permanent and builds up unnoticed. Keeping each source in one group makes it a real assessment of who's exposed and for how long, which is what the regulations require.

Steps included:

• 1 grouped assessment (one group per source): hazard, who's exposed, controls in place, risk level, further action
• Duplicate the group for each noise source

When to upgrade:

1. A manager does the assessment and needs the action levels
2. You want to attach a reading or evidence
3. You run more than one site and need a signed, dated record

#2 - With guidance

Who it's for: Businesses where a manager completes the assessment.

What it is: The simple assessment with a guidance note in the group: the rule of thumb (if you have to raise your voice to be heard two metres away, noise may be a problem), the action levels (around 80 dB lower and 85 dB upper daily exposure) at which you must act and provide hearing protection, and the controls, reduce noise at source, limit exposure time, then hearing protection as a last line.

Available on: Standard.

What it adds to the previous template:

1. The "raise your voice" rule and action levels are on screen
2. The manager knows when hearing protection becomes a duty, not a nicety
3. The assessment is consistent whoever completes it

Why it works: The guidance sits in the group with the fields, so the assessor can judge whether noise is a real problem and what the law requires.

Steps included:

• 1 guidance note in the group (action levels, the rule of thumb, order of controls)
• 1 grouped assessment: hazard, who's exposed, controls, risk level, further action

When to upgrade: When the assessment needs a reading or evidence (Noise RA #3) or a signed, dated record (#4).

#3 - With photo evidence

Who it's for: Businesses that want to attach a noise reading or evidence to the assessment.

What it is: The guided assessment plus a photo or attachment in the group, a reading from a sound-level meter or app, or a photo of the area and the protection provided.

Available on: Standard.

What it adds to the previous template:

1. A reading or photo attached, captured at the time
2. The assessment grounded in a measurement, not just judgement
3. A baseline to compare at the next review

Why it works: A noise reading turns "it seems loud" into a number you can act on and defend. Even a phone app reading is a useful indicator attached to the record.

Steps included:

• 1 guidance note in the group (action levels, the rule of thumb, order of controls)
• 1 grouped assessment: hazard, who's exposed, controls, risk level, further action
• 1 photo or reading in the group

When to upgrade: When the assessment needs a named, dated sign-off (Noise RA #4).

#4 - With photo and signature

Who it's for: Multi-site groups where each site's noise assessment has to be signed, dated, and reviewable from head office.

What it is: The assessment plus a signature in the group. The assessor signs to confirm it and set a review date.

Available on: Standard.

What it adds to the previous template:

1. A signature confirming who assessed and when
2. A clear point to set the next review date
3. A complete, dated record an auditor treats as best practice

Why it works: The signature makes the assessment owned and dated, and across sites it lets a safety lead confirm every noisy site has been assessed.

Steps included:

• 1 guidance note in the group (action levels, the rule of thumb, order of controls)
• 1 grouped assessment: hazard, who's exposed, controls, risk level, further action
• 1 photo or reading in the group
• 1 signature in the group (assessed by)

When to upgrade: When you want Poppi to remind you when a review is due, or pull every site's noise assessments into one report. Those versions are coming in the next post update.

How to pick the right version

You don't need to know our product to choose. Just answer three questions.

Is it just you assessing, or does a manager do it?

If you do it yourself, a plain assessment is enough. The moment a manager does it, the action levels need to be on screen. If only you assess, #1 is fine. If a manager does, start at #2.

Do you need a reading, or is a written record enough?

A written assessment meets the duty. A noise reading grounds it in a number. If a written record is enough, stop at #2. If you want a measurement, #3 adds one.

Does it need a signed, dated sign-off?

For a single site, the record can stand alone. Across sites, an auditor wants a signature on each. If no sign-off is needed, #3 is enough. If you run more than one site, #4 adds a signature.

Related reading

• Working at height risk assessment - another physical-hazard assessment
• Kitchen risk assessment - kitchens are a common noise source
• Fire risk assessment - the core premises assessment

Frequently asked questions

When is workplace noise a problem?

A rough rule: if people have to raise their voices to talk to each other about two metres apart, noise is likely a problem. The Control of Noise at Work Regulations set action levels (around 80 dB lower and 85 dB upper daily exposure) at which you must take action, including providing and requiring hearing protection at the upper level.

Where is noise a risk in hospitality?

Busy kitchens (extraction, machinery), cellars (compressors, gas), and especially events and venues with amplified or live music. Bar and security staff working near speakers for long shifts can be exposed well above the action levels.

Do I need to measure the noise?

You need a "suitable and sufficient" assessment. For clearly loud environments you should measure, or have someone competent measure, the exposure. A sound-level app gives a useful indication; for upper-action-level decisions a proper meter and competent assessor are better. Version #3 lets you attach the reading.

How often should it be reviewed?

When the noise sources or work patterns change, and periodically otherwise. Version #4 captures the sign-off and is the point to set the next review.

Where to go next

Hearing damage from work is permanent and entirely preventable, and hospitality has more loud environments than people assume. A noise risk assessment is how you show you've checked who's exposed and protected them. The versions above move from a simple assessment to a signed, dated record.

Five more versions are coming in the next refresh that bring AI into the assessment. Poppi can remind you when a review is due, and pull every site's noise assessments into one report. Those need more review time and will land separately.

→ Build your own noise risk assessment on Pilla. The Basic plan unlocks the simple assessment today.