The Labor Force Survey from 2021/22 to 2023/24 estimated that the number of workers with work-related hearing problems was 12,000 in the UK alone.

Alongside hearing loss, workers are also at risk of tinnitus, reduced awareness of surroundings, communication difficulties and increased levels of stress. The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 aim to protect workers from the health risks associated with excessive noise exposure.

Employer responsibilities – what must you do?

Under the regulations, employers must:

• Carry out risk assessments of noise in the workplace
• Reduce exposure where possible
• Provide hearing protection if noise risks remain
  • Train employees on safe practices and the use of hearing protection
  • Carry our health surveillance (e.g. hearing checks) for workers who are regularly exposed to noise above 85 dB(A)

Recent HSE findings

The HSE recently identified significant failings in hearing protection in the workplace, with some key findings:

• 75% of workers did not know how to maintain hearing protection
• 63% were not told to wear hearing protection continuously in noisy areas
• 80% did not receive training on correctly fitting hearing protection
• 95% of employers did not check if workers could still hear alarms or warnings

To help employers address these issues, HSE is promoting the CUFF system of four steps to better management of hearing protection:

• Condition: is the equipment in good working order?
• Use: is it worn when and where it should be?
• Fit the ears: is it worn correctly?
• Fit for purpose: is it suitable for the task and environment?

What can you do?

Protect your employees by ensuring your workplace meets the legal requirements regarding noise at work. Carry out risk assessments and noise surveys where appropriate, and provide hearing protection and training to employees as required.

Enforce the use of hearing protection through instruction, check-in sheets, visual inspections, walkarounds. Providing additional information, for example through toolbox talks can further protect your employees.

If you require any support with noise surveys, risk assessments or advice on hearing protection at work, or training needs, please contact the LRB team on 015090 550023.

The post Workplace noise: HSE find gaps in workplace protection appeared first on LRB.

Buy Quiet is an HSE initiative, aimed at reducing noise in the workplace, and managing the risks posed by noise at work.

Exposure to noise at work has been a concern for many years, and whilst there has been success in reducing workplace noise exposures, there are still some industries and incidents where levels remain high and lead to unacceptable risk of hearing damage.

The campaign promotes consumer demand for low noise tools and machinery, which in turn encourages the production and sale of low noise equipment. The hope is that in the long run, designers and manufactures will see commercial advantages to producing quiet tools and machinery.

The Buy Quiet campaign is not solely an HSE campaign, but there is a worldwide drive for the campaign. The HSE works with the European and global partner organisations to help develop and promote Buy Quiet activity.

What are the key messages of Buy Quiet:

According to the HSE’s website, the key messages of the campaign are:

• It  is about manufacturers, importers, suppliers and users of equipment working together  to reduce the risks from noise at work
• Buy Quiet to reduce noise in your workplace
• Buy Quiet and you have a simple, common-sense process that will help you to protect your workforce from noise risks
• It can lead to significant cost benefits over time
• By engaging, you will be helping to stimulate manufactures to develop lower-noise machinery

The issue of noise at work:

Whilst hearing loss is preventable, once your hearing has gone it will not come back. The damage is irreversible. Therefore, it is vitally important that employers take the risks of noise at work seriously.

The damage caused by noise at work can include loss of hearing, and a permanent sensation of ringing in the ears – known as tinnitus.

It is estimated that 17,000 people in the UK suffer deafness, ringing in the ears or other ear conditions caused by excessive noise at work.

You can read our earlier article on noise at work here.

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Don’t hesitate to get in touch if we can help with your health and safety needs

The post Spotlight On – Buy Quiet (Noise at Work) appeared first on LRB.