Compliance Works Issue 1

Under the current UK legislation, The Noise atWork Regulations, a company has 3 main action levels

85dB(A) - Requires the Employer to reduce as Low as is reasonable practicable and offer suitable hearing protection but not enforce the use.
90dB(A) - Requires the employer to reduce as above but now provide hearing protection and enforce the use of it.
200 Pascals - Peak Action level must never occur

February 15th 2003 saw the Physical Agents (Noise) Directive come into force across Europe. Under European law, it must be implemented into UK legislation by February 15th 2006. HSE are planning a period of consultation for this new Directive in 2004.

Perhaps the most significant aspect of the new Directive is the lowering of the action levels. The first action level will be reduced to 80dB(A) and the second to 85 dB(A). The Peak Action level will be reduced to 140 Pascals.

Whilst the enforcement date is still someway off, companies should begin to consider how they will be able to comply with the new levels.

The first step is to carry out a noise survey of th site, taking particular notice of noise levels where members of staff spend a lot of time. Engineering solutions to reducing noise need to be considered before resorting to the use of Personal and Protective Equipment.

Please contact Laidler Associates to discuss how they can assist with your noise issues.

On the HSE Noise website (www.hse.gov.uk/noise), you will find a noise calculator which allows you to work out the daily exposure rate for a given noise level.