5 Steps to Controlling workplace noise Pulsar Instruments’ Guide for Employers According to the HSE, over one million employees in Great Britain are exposed to levels of noise which put their hearing at risk. How does it affect you? Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is one of the most prevalent, but often ignored, risks in the workplace and employees must, by law, be protected. Once noise-induced hearing loss has taken place, it is irreversible. Clearly prevention is the most sensible option here as, currently, 1 in 7 of the UK population are either deaf or hard of hearing. The increasing ‘claim culture’ dictates that employers must comply with their legal duties as detailed in the ‘The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005’. These regulations reduced the previous action levels and also introduced ‘Legal Limits’ for daily noise exposure. These changes were driven by a European Directive in a long term attempt to eliminate noise-induced hearing loss in the workplace. It is worth noting that in 2013 60,000 plus industrial deafness claims notifications were made in the UK (source: Institute of Actuaries). This brief provides some very basic guidance for companies who are making efforts to control their own noise problems. Over 60% of the enquiries we get are from companies who have had claims made against them... Call us before you get a claim on 01723 518011 Call: 01723 518011 Email: [email protected] Web: www.puls

What are your duties as an employer? Step 1 Firstly, you need to establish whether there are any noise hazards within your workplace. This can be achieved through a combination of your knowledge of work practices, making straightforward observations and taking some simple noise measurements in areas you suspect may present a risk. www.hse.gov.uk/noise/calculator.htm), determine an individual’s exposure level. In Figure 1 below, all of the exposures have a value of 80dB(A) but the duration of the respective ‘tasks’ has varied greatly. The 80dB(A) exposure equates to an exposure that just puts...

patterns, those constantly on the move, or people working in confined or difficult to access areas (vehicle cabins, emergency services, construction workers, mining industry or maintenance staff for example). Often forgotten is the necessity to assess the risk from any impulsive noise (sudden very loud bangs and crashes) which is done by making a ‘C’ weighted Peak measurement (LCpeak). Most modern sound level meters and dosimeters will measure both the LAeq and LCpeak simultaneously. Having made and evaluated your measurements, a Noise Control Action Plan is required. This plan is the most important...

Case Study An instrument technician who endured years of tinnitus and partial deafness blasted businesses which fail to take steps to prevent workers from suffering noise-induced hearing loss after winning a battle for compensation. The man who also worked as an electrician for the same company was not given protective equipment until 2000. He was awarded a four-figure payout after he was fitted with hearing aids in both ears. He said: “[For years] The working environment was always so noisy as there was about 40 to 50 people working on the factory floor all operating heavy machinery at once. “It...