Noise at Work Regulations 2006 (10/11/2005)
Businesses should be aware that the final version of the new Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 and the associated Guidance notes are due to be issued by the HSE in October. To coincide with this, Noise will be the main theme of the “European Week for Safety and Health” 24 – 29 October.
In brief summary there will be a “tightening” of the existing 1989 Regulations.
The main points are:-
1) The Action Levels will be reduced to 80 & 85 dB(A) (previous action levels 85 &90). Inevitably the new lower level will bring many more workers and workplaces within the remit of the Regulations. If in doubt, carry out the basic checks that will be outlined in the new Guidance!
2) There will be an emphasis on carrying out a risk assessment to ascertain the people affected.
3) A major emphasis will be the need for an action plan to make sure something is done about reducing high noise exposures, in particular the need to reduce noise at source. It is likely that the HSE will be concentrating on this much neglected area in future.
4) There will be a requirement to carry out regular health surveillance for all those exposed to excessive noise.
The Certificate of Competence in Workplace Noise Assessment of the Institute of Acoustics is still the leading qualification in this field. The PTC operated the first pilot Certificate course in 1989 and it continues to attract candidates from all over the UK and beyond, well over 300 people having obtained this qualification at Colchester. The new course tutor for 2005 will be Gordon Brown, an acoustics consultant with many years experience, who will be pleased to answer any questions you have regarding the course.
During the “European Week for Safety and Health” on 26 October 2005 the Institute of Acoustics is organising a one day conference at Oxford entitled “Good Practice in Reducing Noise”. This day will be concerned with reducing noise emissions from machinery and equipment particularly at source very much in line with point 3 above. David Bull will be delivering practical presentations at this event based on his extensive experience of noise control engineering at the Colchester Institute/PTC over the last 25 years.
