What Is An Industrial Noise Control System?

Many workplaces are loud, but some are dangerously loud. In heavy industries like construction, mining, and manufacturing, noise is not just a nuisance. It is a serious hazard that can put workers' health and safety at risk, reduce productivity, and lead to long-term hearing damage. In fact, here in Australia, noise-induced hearing loss remains one of the most common work-related conditions.

For businesses managing high-risk environments, industrial noise is something that cannot be ignored. In this article, we explain what an industrial noise control system is, how it works, and who benefits most from implementing one. If you are looking for long-term hire solutions to manage onsite hazards, understanding how to control noise effectively is a great place to start.

What Is Industrial Noise?

Industrial noise refers to the continuous or intermittent loud sounds generated by equipment, tools, and mechanical processes in industrial environments. This includes the constant hum of generators, the grinding of concrete saws, the hammering of jackhammers, or the pulsing of ventilation systems.

While these sounds might seem like part of the job, they can become a significant health hazard when left unmanaged. According to Safe Work Australia, hazardous noise is defined as anything that exceeds 85 decibels over an 8-hour shift or 40-hour week. That is roughly the sound of heavy city traffic, but at many worksites, equipment noise easily exceeds that.

Prolonged exposure can lead to temporary or permanent hearing loss, tinnitus, and other serious health concerns. It also contributes to mental fatigue, stress, and communication breakdowns on site, increasing the risk of accidents and errors.

What Is an Industrial Noise Control System?

An industrial noise control system is a set of measures or equipment designed to reduce or contain noise levels in industrial environments. It protects workers' hearing, improves site safety, and ensures compliance with Australian workplace noise regulations.

There are two broad approaches:

• Noise reduction – addressing the sound at the source

• Noise containment – limiting the spread of sound throughout the site or into public areas

Common industrial noise control methods include:

• Acoustic barriers and curtains to block noise between work zones

• Acoustic enclosures for machinery or generators

• Silencers and mufflers to reduce exhaust noise from mechanical systems

• Anti-vibration mounts to dampen structure-borne noise

• Sound-absorbing panels that minimise reverberation in enclosed areas

Each solution targets a different aspect of the noise problem, and often, the best results come from combining multiple approaches.

Why Noise Control Matters

Uncontrolled noise in workplaces has serious consequences. Prolonged exposure to high noise levels can result in irreversible hearing loss, and in many cases, this happens gradually, without workers realising until it is too late. Noise also contributes to fatigue and stress-related illnesses, which affect both physical and mental well-being.

From a business standpoint, failure to control noise can be costly. Employers who do not meet their legal obligations under the Workplace Health and Safety Act may face compensation claims, fines, or stop-work orders.

There is also the loss of productivity to consider. Excessive noise reduces focus, makes communication difficult, and disrupts workflows, especially on large-scale construction sites where coordination is critical.

Noise control systems are an investment in safety, compliance, and efficiency. They help create work environments where people can focus, communicate, and work safely.

Who Needs an Industrial Noise Control System?

Industrial noise control systems are essential for any high-risk site where noise levels exceed safe thresholds. This includes sectors like:

• Construction and civil engineering

• Mining and quarrying

• Manufacturing and processing plants

• Utilities and power generation

• Tunnelling and infrastructure projects

• Transport hubs and roadworks

Sites located in urban or residential areas also face strict environmental noise limits. On many major Australian infrastructure projects, noise control is included in the compliance specifications, especially when working night shifts or near sensitive receptors like schools or hospitals.

Additionally, when the public is at risk, just one complaint can be enough to shut an entire project down. That means unplanned delays, extra costs, and significant pressure on delivery deadlines, none of which are easy to recover from. Taking a proactive approach to noise control helps prevent these disruptions and keeps projects on schedule.

What You Can Do to Minimise the Risk

Industrial noise is a real hazard that affects health, safety, and productivity onsite. It is also one of the more manageable risks, provided you take the right approach and have the right tools at your disposal.

For high-impact, long-term projects, hiring noise control equipment is a practical and flexible solution. It allows you to access professional-grade systems without the capital outlay or maintenance costs that come with buying. More importantly, it gives you the ability to scale your noise management strategy as your site evolves.

Whether you need acoustic barriers for site perimeters, enclosures for machinery, or sound-absorbing panels for enclosed zones, a tailored equipment hire plan helps you stay compliant without overcommitting budget or resources. We encourage you to assess your current noise levels and think about whether your existing controls are doing enough.

Noise Control in Action

Few places are more recognisable than the Sydney Opera House – an architectural icon that draws visitors from across the globe. When major work was scheduled to remove and replace the pavers surrounding the Opera House, the project team faced a significant challenge. Equipment like generators and jackhammers was essential to the job, but also posed a real noise hazard not just to the onsite crew but also to the wider public passing through, or living nearby.

Partnering with Seymour Whyte, RVT was brought in to implement a tailored noise control solution. Our team designed and installed specialist noise enclosures that effectively contained the bulk of the sound generated by heavy equipment. This helped protect the health and comfort of everyone in the area while keeping the project on track and in line with strict environmental and community standards.

At RVT, we are committed to helping you protect your workforce from unsafe noise levels and other hazards, and keep you within your compliance requirements. Our industrial noise control solutions are purpose-built for demanding environments and come with the support you need to set them up properly. From the initial site assessment to the installation of your solutions, we will be there to support you every step of the way.

We work closely with site managers, health and safety leads, and compliance officers to ensure the right system is in place and stays effective throughout the life of your project. Whether you need temporary noise barriers, machinery enclosures, or full-scale noise containment systems, we are here to guide you through it.