Do you know the impact noise can have on your employees hearing?
Published on February 7th, 2020 | by Sophie West
Do you know the impact noise can have on your employees hearing?
We have witnessed many work places, genuinely not realising how noisey their work environment is. Why is that? Because they are used to the noise? Or it is “expected noise”? If exposed over a long period of time, even moderate noises can damage your employees hearing. Noise created from production processes and machinery can also be hazardous if not correctly risk assessed with appropriate controls put in place. The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 places a legal duty on the employer to control noise exposure within the workplace.
Employers must undertake a Workplace Noise survey to identify where there is a risk of noise to employees or others who will be affected. The survey will contain an estimate of employee exposures during their working day. The survey will identify what you as an employer need to implement to appropriately manage noise within the workplace. Control measures could include acoustic boxes, barriers or other engineering controls. As a last resort, hearing protection could be issued to employees. Where employees are regularly exposed at or over 85 dB, they may be subject to mandatory Health Surveillance in the form audiometric screening.
How easy is to put health surveillance in place?
Thankfully, Agility Risk & Compliance Ltd make it very easy!
Our experienced team can work with your business to implement a suitable health surveillance service.
We have in-house Occupational Health Technicians, who are overseen by an Occupational Health Advisor. Our team can conduct the tests in a quiet room on your premises or in our state-of-the-art acoustic booth in our mobile health surveillance unit. Following the testing, a full report is prepared that will clearly show if any of your employees require a referral or fitness to work letter. Agility Risk & Compliance Ltd can also arrange this through our Occupational Health Advisor.
Remember, when it comes to your company’s compliance no question or enquiry is “A silly question” we are always on hand to help and guide you.
If you would like more information and for us to help carry our a work place noise survey call one of our experts on 01527 571 611
