The HSE have announced a brand new initiative aimed at encouraging manufacturers to make quieter machinery and businesses to use the quieter machinery. They have done this in a bid to try to reduce the amount of noise related health problems created in the workplace.

It has been estimated that 170,000 people within the UK suffer from hearing complications due to being exposed to high levels of noise in the workplace. The initiative ‘Buy Quiet’ has been designed to educate people to what they can do in order to reduce noise levels.

The HSE are particularly interested in building a closer working relationship with manufacturers and understanding what can be done to make reductions at work.

An event was held in March 2010 where the relevant businesses and organisations met up to debate how noise plays a big role in their daily lives and how it can impact on your hearing.

The workshop aimed to give information on the legal rules regarding noise levels and to help employers acknowledge the risk factors that are associated with noise induced hearing loss.

By law employers are required to monitor noise levels under The Control of Noise at Work Regulations Act. There are duties that employers have to fulfil in order to look after the interests of their employees. All employers must assess the risk to their employees and take action to reduce the noise levels if the risk assessment shows there is a need to. In some cases employers will be required to provide their employees with protective hearing protection if the noise levels cannot be controlled any other way. A duty of care is owed to employees and noise levels must be controlled and not exceeding the recommended safe level. Health surveillance tests should be undertaken when there is said to be a risk to the health of any employee.

Deafness claims can be pursued via a qualified solicitor. Tinnitus Claims are also often pursued by people suffering from work place hearing damage.

Tagged with: Deafness • Hearing Damage • Hearing Loss • Tinnitus • work place noise

Filed under: Hearing Loss Articles and Information

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