Businesses should make sure that any noise from their activities doesn’t impact the local community. This includes being responsible for contractors or tradespeople they may hire.

Noise is unwanted sound or vibration that can impact health, sleep and daily living, learning, communication and relaxation.

Your business can generate noise in many ways, for example, through: 

• vehicle traffic and people movement
• heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems (for example, cooling towers, evaporative condensers, boilers, chillers and intake/outtake valves)
• operating process plant machinery indoors and outdoors.

Some examples of industries and businesses that need to manage noise include: 

• construction and infrastructure – such as demolition, site preparation work, site clean-up and dismantling activities, and truck and vehicle movement and operation
• manufacturing – such as food processing, metal fabrication, pharmaceutical and petroleum
• retail and small business – such as supermarkets, cafes, restaurants and shops, laundries
• transportation and logistics – such as truck depots, warehousing and vehicle maintenance
• waste and recycling – such as waste transfer and recycling centres, landfills, organic waste and compost facilities.

Why eliminating or reducing noise is important

Noise can impact communities and the natural behaviour of animals if it is not appropriately managed. Impacts on people can include: 

• inability to sleep or reduced quality of sleep
• impaired communication
• reduced cognitive performance
• worsening of mental health problems
• discomfort caused by noise vibration. 

Eliminating or reducing the risks of harm from noise in a structured way will help you:

• meet community expectations
• prevent harm to human health and the environment
• comply with your environmental duties and obligations.

Not eliminating or reducing your environmental risk could mean you face lost work time, legal fees, fines and criminal charges.

Noise and your duties

Businesses should make sure that any noise from their activities or premises doesn’t impact the local community. This includes being responsible for contractors or tradespeople you may hire.

There are laws that cover noise.