125. An employer shall—

(a) in compliance with the general principles of prevention set out in Schedule 3 to the Act, and in consultation with the employer's employees or representatives, or both ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that the risk arising from exposure of the employer's employees to noise is either eliminated at source or reduced to a minimum,

(b) in complying with paragraph (a), take into account, in particular—

(i) other methods of work which eliminate or reduce exposure to noise,

(ii) the choice of appropriate work equipment, taking account of the work to be done, emitting the least possible noise, including the possibility of making available to employees work equipment in compliance with section 16 of the Act with the aim or effect of limiting exposure to noise,

(iii) the design and layout of places of work and workstations,

(iv) adequate information and training to instruct employees to use work equipment correctly and safely in order to reduce their exposure to noise to a minimum,

(v) noise reduction by technical means, such as—

(I) reducing air-borne noise, for instance by use of shields, enclosures and sound absorbent coverings,

(II) reducing structure-borne noise, for instance by damping or isolation,

(vi) appropriate maintenance programmes for work equipment, the place of work workstations and systems of work, and

(vii) organisation of work to reduce noise by -

(I) limiting the duration and intensity of the exposure, and

(II) arranging appropriate work schedules with adequate rest periods,

(c) where, owing to the nature of the activity, rest facilities are provided, ensure that noise in those facilities is reduced to a level compatible with their purpose and the conditions of use, and

(d) adapt any measure taken in compliance with this Regulation and Regulations 126 and 127, to take account of any employee whose safety or health is at particular risk from exposure to noise.