Hawkwalk is right.
The Control of Noise at Work Regulations (CONAW 2005) came into effect this year. This regulatory document sets a scale of noise limits where differing levels of noise protection are required as a minimum.
A number of noise mitigation solutions can be carried out:
*quieter equipment
*enclose equipment in alternative location
*build a number of absorbent noise screens or enclosures around noisy items
*ear defenders
In CONAW 2005, the noise level at which action must be taken was lowered, and following the aforementioned noise survey risk assessment, the most obvious and cheapest solution is to get all you guys to wear ear defenders.
The employer however, must be careful that the employee is not OVER protected, and is still able to hear audible alarms within the workplace.