In brief
The noise regulation sets three thresholds. At 80 dB(A) hearing protection is made available and employees are trained; at 85 dB(A) wearing hearing protection is mandatory, an action plan is prepared, the area is marked and hearing tests are carried out; 87 dB(A) may not be exceeded under any circumstances, including the effect of hearing protection. Hearing protection is not taken into account for the action values, but it is for the limit value.
What values does the noise regulation set?
The main legislation on noise at work is the Regulation on the Protection of Employees from Noise-Related Risks of 28 July 2013. Known simply as the noise regulation, it applies to all workplaces within the scope of Law No. 6331 and defines three thresholds in Art. 5.
Two of these thresholds are noise action values and the third is the noise exposure limit value. The thresholds are expressed with two measures. The daily noise exposure level (LEX,8h) is the time-weighted average of the noise an employee is exposed to during the day, normalised to an eight-hour working day; impulsive noise is included. Peak sound pressure (Ppeak) is the peak value of instantaneous impulsive noise.
| Threshold | LEX,8h | Ppeak | Is the effect of hearing protection taken into account? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower exposure action value | 80 dB(A) | 112 Pa [135 dB(C)] | No |
| Upper exposure action value | 85 dB(A) | 140 Pa [137 dB(C)] | No |
| Exposure limit value | 87 dB(A) | 200 Pa [140 dB(C)] | Yes |
For work where it is established with certainty that daily exposure varies markedly from day to day, the weekly noise exposure level may be used instead of the daily level. In this case too, the weekly level found through adequate measurement may not exceed 87 dB(A) (Art. 5/4).
80 dB(A): the lower exposure action value
When an employee's exposure exceeds 80 dB(A), the employer:
- Makes hearing protection available. It is made available for employees' use, but the regulation does not state that use is mandatory at this level (Art. 9/1-a).
- Informs and trains. Those exposed to noise at or above this level are trained on the risks of noise, the measures taken, the threshold values, measurement results, the correct use of hearing protection, how to report signs of hearing loss and the conditions of health surveillance (Art. 11).
- Considers hearing tests. If the risk assessment and measurement results point to a health risk, hearing tests may also be arranged for these employees (Art. 13/1-c).
80 dB(A) is also the level at which collective measures start to be considered. The regulation requires the risks arising from noise to be eliminated at source or reduced to a minimum in all cases (Art. 8/1).
85 dB, hearing protection mandatory: the upper exposure action value
When exposure reaches or exceeds 85 dB(A), the obligations increase markedly:
- Wearing hearing protection is mandatory. The employer ensures that hearing protection is used by employees and supervises its use (Art. 9/1-b).
- An action plan is prepared. An action plan containing technical or work organisation measures to reduce exposure is drawn up and implemented (Art. 8/3-a).
- The area is marked. Work areas where employees are exposed to noise are marked, their boundaries defined and, where technically possible, access is controlled (Art. 8/3-b).
- Hearing tests are mandatory. The employer arranges hearing tests for employees exposed to noise above this value (Art. 13/1-b).
The 87 dB limit value: may not be exceeded under any circumstances
An employee's exposure may not exceed the exposure limit value under any circumstances (Art. 10). If the value is found to have been exceeded, the employer:
- Immediately takes the necessary measures to bring exposure below the limit,
- Determines why the limit was exceeded,
- Reviews and revises protective and preventive measures to prevent a recurrence.
On site, "immediately" usually means: the employee's time in that environment is cut at once, a switch is made to hearing protection that gives higher protection or fits the ear better, correct fitting of the protection is checked on the spot, and a temporary screen or layout change is made for the noisiest source until a permanent technical measure is planned. Exceeding the limit value also requires the risk assessment to be reviewed.
When is hearing protection taken into account?
This is one of the most often misunderstood rules in the regulation, and it is written explicitly in paragraphs two and three of Art. 5:
- For the action values (80 and 85 dB(A)), the effect of hearing protection is not taken into account. If the environment is 92 dB(A), the action values have been exceeded even if the employee wears hearing protection; the obligations for an action plan, marking and hearing tests continue.
- For the limit value (87 dB(A)), the protective effect of hearing protection is taken into account. In other words, compliance with the limit value is assessed according to the level reaching the ear while hearing protection is worn.
This rule has two practical consequences. First, hearing protection needs to be selected to suit the ambient level; an inadequate earplug may cause you to exceed the limit value in a very noisy hall. Second, over-protection is also a problem: the risk assessment also takes into account the ability to hear warning signals and other sounds (Art. 7/1-d). An employee who cannot hear a forklift horn or an alarm is exposed to another risk. Also remember that there may be a difference between the protection value of hearing protection on paper and the actual protection on site; an earplug that is not inserted correctly does not give the expected protection. For the rules on selection and training, see our article on the PPE use regulation.
Measurement and risk assessment
The employer addresses noise in the risk assessment and, depending on the results, determines exposure by having measurements taken where necessary (Art. 6). The measurement should show the employee's personal exposure; a single spot measurement in the middle of the hall does not show this. Measurement and assessment results are kept to be shown in inspections.
In the risk assessment, Art. 7 of the regulation requires particular attention to: the type and duration of exposure including impulsive noise, groups requiring special policies, interaction between noise and work-related ototoxic substances and between noise and vibration, the manufacturer's noise information for work equipment, whether quieter alternative equipment is available, and information from health surveillance.
Workplace measurements are carried out by laboratories holding a certificate of competence from the Ministry, which notify ISG-KATİP (the Ministry's online OHS registration system) of the measurement at least three days in advance; results from an uncertified laboratory are not valid. Bursa Sistemer does not have its own laboratory; we plan measurements with authorised laboratories and enter the results in the risk assessment. For the assessment steps, see our risk assessment guide.
A worked example in a weaving business
In textiles, one of Bursa's long-established sectors, weaving halls are among the places where the noise regulation comes up most. Cotton weaving is in the hazardous class in the 2025 list. Below we show, department by department, what needs to be done in a weaving business whose values are given as an example:
| Department | Example LEX,8h | Status | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weaving hall | 91 dB(A) | 85 exceeded; 87 limit must be controlled with hearing protection | Mandatory hearing protection, action plan, marking, hearing tests, rotation and loom maintenance |
| Preparation and warping | 83 dB(A) | 80 exceeded | Hearing protection available, training, hearing tests as the physician decides |
| Quality control | 78 dB(A) | Below the action value | Monitoring in the risk assessment |
| Rest area | Should be low | Art. 8/4 | Noise level should be suitable for the purpose of rest |
In a weaving hall, the first items of the action plan are usually putting loom maintenance on a regular footing, eliminating loose parts, vibration isolation where possible and work organisation that shortens time spent in the hall. Quiet zones such as a control room or break area also reduce exposure. For businesses in the OIZs (organised industrial zones) in Nilüfer and in the TOSAB Bursa Textile Dyehouses Specialised OIZ in Badırga, you can find area-specific planning on our Nilüfer OSGB page; other risks in the sector are on our textiles page.
Health surveillance and hearing tests
Under Art. 13 of the regulation, to diagnose hearing loss early, the employer places employees under health surveillance where the Law requires it, where the risk assessment deems it necessary and at regular intervals set by the workplace physician. The regulation does not set a fixed frequency for hearing tests; the physician decides.
If health surveillance finds that hearing loss is caused by work-related noise:
- The employee is informed of the results by the workplace physician,
- The employer reviews the risk assessment and the measures taken,
- If necessary, the employee is assigned to other work where they will not be exposed to noise,
- The health of other employees exposed to similar noise is reviewed and they are placed under regular surveillance.
Noise-induced hearing loss is an occupational disease; for the diagnosis and reporting process see our article on occupational disease, and for examination intervals our article on periodic examinations and tests. For measurement planning and noise risk assessment, see our risk assessment service, and for health surveillance including audiometry, our health surveillance service.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is hearing protection mandatory below 85 dB?
Between 80 and 85 dB(A), it is mandatory to make hearing protection available to employees; the regulation sets the 85 dB(A) threshold for making its use mandatory. A business may make its use mandatory at a lower level too, based on its risk assessment.
Is the 87 dB limit value calculated with hearing protection?
Yes. When assessing compliance with the limit value, the protective effect of the hearing protection worn by the employee is taken into account. This effect is not taken into account for the action values.
How often are hearing tests carried out?
The regulation does not give a fixed interval; the workplace physician decides. Hearing tests are mandatory for those exposed to noise above 85 dB(A), and may be arranged for those above 80 dB(A) if there is a risk.
When is noise measurement repeated?
The regulation does not give a fixed period. In situations affecting exposure, such as a new machine, a layout change, a change in the shift pattern or a finding of hearing loss, the measurement should be reviewed together with the risk assessment.
A risk assessment that identifies and scores hazards on site, links each measure to an owner and a date, and has a clear renewal schedule.
Bursa SİSTEMER OSGB Technical Team — written from the field experience of our OHS specialists and workplace physicians. Legal information is valid as of the publication/update date; contact us for an assessment specific to your business.