HSA bid to protect workers from noise

New regulations governing the control of noise at work will be enforced in a bid to lower the risks posed by exposure to excessive sound levels from machinery, safety bosses warned today.

The two sets of legislation covers the level of exposure to noise experienced by employees as well as limiting the time spent in contact with vibrations from machinery.

Health and Safety Authority (HAS) chief executive Tom Beegan said: ‘The Health and Safety Authority has long been active in tackling what we term as ‘accidents in slow motion’ where damage is done to health and well-being over a long period of time through exposure to noise or vibration.

“These regulations should be seen not only as a protection for employees but also as an assistance to employers.”

The HAS estimates excessive noise in the workplace results in long-term damage to one-third of Ireland’s workforce.

Inspections by officials will be taking place at many workplaces including bottling plants, call centres, sawmills and the music and entertainment industry.

Under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, the regulations set the exposure action values, which are the levels of exposure which require specific actions to be taken to reduce the risk.

It also details the exposure limit values which are the daily levels which must not be exceeded for any employees.

Mr Beegan said an employer must ensure the risk arising from exposure of his or her employees to noise or vibration is either eliminated at source or reduced to a minimum.

Under the regulations an employer must make a suitable assessment of the risk where employees are likely to be exposed at a level below the limits.

At lower limits an employer must make individual hearing protectors available to block sound.

The regulations also outline measures to be taken to protect employees from the risk of excessive vibrations from machinery on health, such as effects on muscular and bone structure, neurological and vascular disorders.

Mr Beegan urged both employers and employees to take full account of the information, training and health surveillance aspects of the new regulations.