Pipe down or pay the price
New laws to protect the one million UK workers regularly exposed to excessive noise have come into effect.
The Control of Noise at Work Regulations apply to all businesses where noise is a factor, such as construction, engineering and manufacturing.
Employers are now legally obliged to assess risks to their staff, provide hearing protection where necessary and look at different working methods if noise exposure is excessive.
Bosses are being warned to take the new rules seriously or face a wave of compensation claims from staff whose hearing has been damaged at work.
“An employer has a duty to control hazards,” said Roger Bibbings, a Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA) occupational health adviser.
“This includes arrangements for monitoring the atmosphere to check on exposure levels to dust and to measure noise levels so that they are within the limits laid down by guidelines.”
The Health and Safety Executive is recommending the following advice for employers who will be affected by the new regulations.
Employers should consider whether:
* Noise is intrusive for most of the working day;
* Employees have to raise their voices to carry out normal conversation when two metres apart;
* Employees use noisy powered tools or machinery for more than half-an-hour a day;
* Employees work in a noisy industry, and;
* There are noises due to impacts, like hammering, or explosive sources such as cartridge operated tools, detonators or guns.
Hearing protection dos and don’ts
* Employers should issue hearing protection to employees where extra protection is needed or as a short-term measure.
* Make sure protectors give enough protection – aim at least to get below 85 decibels (dB) at the ear.
* Target the use of protection. Select protectors which are suitable for the working environment and comfortable to wear.
* Think about how they will be work with other protective equipment such as hard hats and provide a choice.
* Carry out spot checks.
* Include their wearing in your safety policy. Set a good example by wearing equipment yourself when appropriate. Ensure equipment is in good working order and hygienic.
Don’t
* Provide protectors that cut out too much noise.
* Make the use of hearing protectors compulsory when there is no legal requirement.
* Have a blanket approach to hearing protection – target its use.
Employers should remember that people often experience temporary deafness after leaving a noisy place. Even if it returns after a few hours this should not be ignored.
However, hearing loss is not the only health risk. People may develop tinnitus – a ringing, whistling, buzzing or humming in the ears.
Furthermore, occupational health experts are stressing that employers should remember to monitor frequencies as well as noise levels.
Equipment can cost anything from £600 to £6,000, but a number of health and safety organisations are now offering a noise assessment service which includes advice and recommendation about engineering controls, hearing protection programmes, health surveillance and personal protective equipment.
