What the Law says Damage
to hearing from exposure to noise in a work environment has lead to an
increase in the number of compensation claims. In April 2006 new EU
noise legislation was introduced into UK Law under 'The 2005 Control of
Noise At Work Regulations'. Businesses now have to review their policy
on noise in the workplace under the new Control of Noise at Work
Regulations 2006.
The focus of the new legislation is:
The noise legislation is focused on the employee exposure to noise. The
first level threshold is 80 dB(A). The approach moves away from an over
reliance on assessment, quantification of exposure levels and
consequent hearing protection solely in the form of PPE, towards an
agenda of proactive and active control and management of noise issues.
Exposure to loud noise can cause permanent hearing damage. Damage can
involve loss of hearing ability and people may also suffer a permanent
sensation of noises or ringing in the ears, known as 'tinnitus'.
Hearing loss caused by exposure to noise at work continues to be a
significant occupational disease. It is estimated that over 2.2 million
people in the UK are exposed to excessive noise levels in the
workplace. Recent research estimates that 170,000 people in the UK
suffer deafness, tinnitus or other ear conditions as a result of
exposure to excessive noise at work.
Excessive noise in the workplace can lead to an unsatisfactory and
unsafe working environment and create unwanted and unacceptable noise
in the environment. |