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E044:06 6 April 2006
Noise regulations come
into force
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is reminding
employers that the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 come into force
today. The regulations replace the existing Noise at Work Regulations 1989
for all industries in Great Britain except music and entertainment, which
have until April 2008 to comply.
Welcoming the new regulations health and safety minister Lord Hunt of Kings
Heath said, “With over one million employees in Great Britain exposed to
levels of noise at work which could damage hearing the new regulations will
reduce exposure without placing unnecessary burdens on employers.”
It is hoped that full compliance with the regulations will eliminate all
new cases of hearing damage caused by work by 2030. The Regulations put the
emphasis on identifying measures to eliminate or reduce risks from exposure
to noise at work rather than simply relying on hearing protection, although
this may also be needed in the short term.
Workplaces, which fell within the scope of the 1989 Regulations, should already
have measures in place and the main effect is likely to be a need to review
their risk assessments and prioritise their noise-control measures. Employees
whose use of hearing protection under the 1989 Regulations was advisory will
now have to wear the protection supplied.
Brian Lamb, Director of Communications at RNID, says: “We welcome the new
Control of Noise at Work Regulations. Prolonged exposure to loud noise can
cause permanent hearing loss and employers have a legal duty to cut down
noise and protect their employees from the harmful effects of noise at work.
However, employees also have to play their part and use the hearing protection
available to them.
“Noise induced hearing loss is often cumulative and not immediately obvious,
so its threat is seldom recognised or taken seriously. Whilst the effects
of noise are irreversible, noise induced hearing loss is totally preventable.”
Employees newly covered by the Regulations are at relatively lower risk,
and the employer will need to put in place proportionate noise reduction
measures and provide hearing protection on request.
For more information about the Regulations and simple steps that can be taken
to reduce employee noise exposure visit: www.hse.gov.uk/noise
Notes to editors
1 The simple rules of thumb that may indicate you have a noise problem are:
You’re surrounded by intrusive noise for most of the working day
You have to raise your voice to be heard by someone just 2 metres away, for
at least part of the day
You use noisy powered tools or machinery for more than 30 minutes a day
You work in a noisy industry such as construction, road repair, engineering
or manufacturing
Your work causes impacts such as hammering, drop forging, pneumatic impact
tools, etc.
You work with explosive sources such as cartridge-operated tools, detonators,
or guns
2 The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 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
3 The main changes in the Regulations are to lower exposure action levels.
As of 6 April these will be lowered by 5 dB in comparison to the 1989 Regulations,
to 80 dB for the lower exposure action value and 85 dB for the upper exposure
action value.
4 Employers should always be looking to eliminate or reduce risks from noise,
and the exposure action values are points at which the employers must take
specific action. At the lower exposure action value a risk assessment is
needed, employees told about the risks and hearing protection must be made
available on request; and at the upper exposure action value noise control
should be part of a planned programme, hearing checks are needed and hearing
protection must be used.
5 Exposure is assessed over a working day, or a week if exposure varies markedly
from day to day. Exposure to members of the public from their non-work activities
is not covered by the Regulations. Also low-level noise, which, while it
may be a nuisance, presents no risk to hearing damage, is not covered by
the Regulations.
6 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. Meanwhile they must continue to comply with the
Noise at Work Regulation 1989 by ensuring they minimise the risk of hearing
damage to their employees.
7 HSE has produced a simple guide to the Regulations and advice for employers
to reduce exposure. This can be downloaded from www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg362.pdf
Copies of Controlling noise at work L108, ISBN 0 7176 6164 4, price £13.95,
are available from HSE Books, PO Box 1999, Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 2WA, tel:
01787-881165 or fax: 01787-313995. Priced publications are also available
from good booksellers.
Press enquiries
Ray Allger 020 7717 6179
Out of hours 020 7928 8382
Public enquiries
HSE's InfoLine
0845 3450055
Caerphilly Business Park, Caerphilly CF83 3GG
HSE information and news releases can be accessed on the Internet www.hse.gov.uk/
