Turn it down
Turn it down - Legislation for Noise in the workplace
Under new Noise at Work Regulations, the noise levels to which employees can be exposed have been reduced by almost half.
This legislation came into force on 6 April 2006 in an attempt to control noise in the workplace – with a two year transitional period for the music and entertainment industry until April 2008.
The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 lowers acceptable noise levels in the workplace by five decibels to 85 decibels. That is roughly the equivalent of the sound made by a petrol lawnmower. Employers will be required to limit staff exposure to noise above this level and also adequately protect them from suffering hearing damage.
One of the challenges set by the new rules is that many sectors previously not covered, such as the leisure industry, will now have to tackle noise exposure.
The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) has stated that over two million workers in the UK are exposed to levels of noise which are likely to damage their hearing permanently and in a way which socially disables them. If you are an employer, you should be aware that noise induced hearing loss (NIHL) litigation claims look set to increase because NIHL is a recognisable industrial injury. The new regulations could open up the music and leisure sector to the level of claims previously seen in heavy industry during the early 1980s.
Recent research from the Health & Safety Executive’s (HSE) Noise and Vibration Programme estimates that 170,000 people in the UK suffer deafness, tinnitus or other ear conditions as a result of exposure to excessive noise at work.
Awards of damages for the impact of loss of hearing can vary between £4,000 and £18,000, and in some cases are far higher, depending on the severity of the disability suffered and the age of the person affected. The legal costs associated with any claim for compensation would have to be paid in any successful noise induced hearing loss claim.
If your organisation seems likely to exceed the new level, you should undertake a comprehensive assessment of your employees’ noise exposure. Even if you have set up a hearing conservation programme, you should review it to ensure the attenuation values currently provided by the existing hearing protection used by your employees meets the new lower noise exposure limits. For further information please see : Noise Reduction Legislation for the Workplace
