Noise at Work Regulations 2005 now in force
The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 (SI No.1643) came into force for all industry sectors in Great Britain on 6th April 2006 (except for the music and entertainment sectors – see below). These Regulations aim to ensure that workers’ hearing is protected from excessive noise at their place of work, which could cause them to lose their hearing and/or to suffer from tinnitus.
The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 replace the Noise at Work Regulations 1989 and require employers to:
• Assess the risks to their employees from noise at work
• Take action to reduce the noise exposure that produces those risks
• Provide their employees with hearing protection if they cannot reduce the noise exposure enough through other methods (making hearing protection available on request at 80 dB and ensuring it is worn at 85 dB)
• Make sure the legal limits on noise exposure (87 dB daily or weekly exposure or peak sound pressure of 140 dB taking account of hearing protection) are not exceeded
• Provide employees with information, instruction and training
• Carry out health surveillance where there is a risk to health
The main changes in the Regulations are to lower exposure action levels. As of 6 April these were lowered by 5 dB in comparison to the 1989 Regulations. The level at which employers must provide hearing protection and hearing protection zones is now 85 decibels (daily or weekly average exposure) and the level at which employers must assess the risk to workers’ health and provide them with information and training is now 80 decibels. There is also an exposure limit value of 87 decibels, taking account of any reduction in exposure provided by hearing protection, above which workers must not be exposed.
Employers in the music and entertainment sectors have a further two years transitional period, as the new Regulations do not come in to force in these sectors until 6 April 2008.
HSE has produced a guide to the Regulations, which can be downloaded from: www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg362.pdf.
The full text of the Regulations can be found at: http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2005/20051643.htm.
Source: www.hse.gov.uk (accessed 03/05/06)
JPD offer Training Services for Health & Safety, for more information visit http://www.jpd.co.uk/courses/healthsafety.htm or contact one of our freindly training advisors on 01565 724200.