EVERYDAY
Conversation is safe
The WHO lists normal conversation at 60 dB and a library at 40 dB, both safe for unlimited time.
Try the ladderStart
DECIBELS, IN PLAIN ENGLISH
Loud is fine.
Loud for long is not.
Hearing damage is about level and time together.
The World Health Organization puts a weekly time on each step of the decibel ladder. The louder the sound, the shorter that time gets, and at the top it is measured in seconds.
80 dBup to 40 hours a week
Check a soundKeep in mind
- Turn it down
- Step away
- Protect your ears
- Level and time, together
THE SHORT ANSWER
It depends on
how long you listen.
A decibel number alone does not tell you much.
What matters is how loud, for how long.
AT HOME
Hair dryer, 20 minutes
The WHO puts a hair dryer at 100 dB, safe for about 20 minutes a week. At 80 dB the weekly allowance is 40 hours.
See the numbers
AT WORK
Employers must act at 80 dB
In Great Britain, employers must assess the risk at 80 dB(A) and provide hearing protection at 85 dB(A).
The work limitsTHE DECIBEL LADDER
How long is
this sound safe?
Pick an everyday sound to see the level the WHO gives it and how long it says you can safely listen each week. The bar shows how quickly the safe time runs out.
Weekly safe listening times from the World Health Organization. General information, not medical advice.
TWO NUMBERS WORTH KNOWING
Avoidable damage,
on a large scale.
One figure on who is at risk today,
one on where the WHO says things are heading.
1 billion+
Young adults at risk from unsafe listening
The WHO says over 1 billion young adults are at risk of permanent, avoidable hearing loss due to unsafe listening practices.
AT RISK · WHO
≈ 2.5 billion
People projected to have some hearing loss
The WHO projects that nearly 2.5 billion people will have some degree of hearing loss by 2050, and over 700 million, 1 in every 10 people, disabling hearing loss.
BY 2050 · WHO
The WHO says over 5% of the world's population, 430 million people, already need rehabilitation for hearing loss.
FOUR HABITS TO TRY
Keep the music,
save the hearing.
None of these means giving up loud things. They are about trimming the level or the time, which is what the safe listening figures are built on.
Step 1
Cap the volume at 60%
The WHO suggests setting your device to no more than 60% of maximum for headphones, games and online classes.
Step 2
Watch the time, not just the level
80 dB is safe for up to 40 hours a week, 90 dB for only 4. Shorter sessions keep you inside the allowance.
Step 3
Use the protection provided
At work, HSE says employers must provide hearing protection once exposure reaches 85 dB(A). Wear it in the hearing protection zones.
Step 4
Notice the raised voice
If you have to raise your voice to talk to someone about 2 metres away, HSE says that is a sign of a noise problem at work.
NOISE AT WORK
The law draws
three lines.
Under the Control of Noise at Work Regulations, Great Britain sets levels for daily or weekly exposure. At 80 dB(A) employers must assess the risk and give information and training. At 85 dB(A) they must provide hearing protection and hearing protection zones.
87 dB(A) is the exposure limit, which takes account of hearing protection and must not be exceeded. HSE's quick signs of a problem include raising your voice to talk at about 2 metres, and using noisy powered tools for more than half an hour a day.
Questions
Questions on the way
What is a safe volume for headphones?
The WHO advises keeping your device at no more than 60% of maximum volume. It says a sound level of 80 dB is safe for up to 40 hours a week.
Why does a few decibels make such a difference?
Small steps make big differences. In the WHO table, going from 80 dB to 85 dB cuts the safe weekly time from 40 hours to 12 hours 30 minutes, and 90 dB allows only 4 hours.
How loud is normal conversation?
The WHO lists normal conversation at 60 dB and soft whispering at 30 dB. Both are safe for unlimited time.
What are the noise limits at work in the UK?
HSE sets a lower action value of 80 dB(A) and an upper action value of 85 dB(A) for daily or weekly exposure, and an exposure limit of 87 dB(A). There are also peak values of 135, 137 and 140 dB(C).
How do I know if my workplace is too noisy?
HSE says you probably need to act if people have to raise their voices to talk when about 2 metres apart, use noisy powered tools for more than half an hour a day, or work somewhere as noisy as a busy road or a crowded restaurant.
Destination
Where the facts come from
- World Health Organization: Deafness and hearing loss, safe listening (Q&A)
- World Health Organization fact sheet: Deafness and hearing loss
- HSE: Noise at work, advice for employers
- HSE: Noise at work regulations, what you need to do
- HSE INDG362: Noise at work, a brief guide to controlling the risks
Updated