Noise at Work
Hearing loss caused by noise at work is a significant occupational disease affecting over 170,000 people in the UK*. It can be prevented, but once your hearing is damaged, it’s irreversible. Noise at work can also result in distressing, permanent conditions such as tinnitus – a ringing or whistling in the ears.
The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 (Noise Regulations 2005) requires you to prevent or reduce risks to the health and safety of your workforce from noisy workplaces. You’re expected to:
- Assess the risks involved and take action to reduce or prevent those risks
- Train your employees so that they’re aware of the risks themselves and understand how important it is to uphold the measures you’re putting in place
*Health and Safety Executive
First of all, it’s important to make sure you’re not exceeding the legal limits for noise exposure. You should try to use quiet (or quieter) equipment if at all possible, provide noise protection and reduce time of exposure by managing shift changes effectively. By fully complying with the regulations, you can help eliminate work-related deafness.
Throughout this catalogue, any product which should be used with ear defenders is highlighted with a noise protection symbol. If you have any questions, feel free to quiz our staff over the noise levels of the equipment you’re hiring, and ask for advice about noise protection. We also sell Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in our branches, including ear plugs and ear defenders.
