NOISE MONITORING
Exposure to excessive noise is a major occupational hazard with prolonged over-exposure potentially leading to noise induced hearing loss. Today almost 10 million people in the UK have some degree of hearing loss. That figure is expected to rise to around 14.5million by 2031, so it’s important for employers to act now.
WHAT DOES THE
LEGISLATION SAY? In June, at Safety & Health Expo, the British Safety Industry Federation (BSIF) launched its ‘Listen Today, Hear Tomorrow’ campaign to highlight the problem of long term hearing loss and offered advice on how to tackle the issue. The BSIF campaign acknowledges that hearing protection is not the ultimate solution for protecting workers, and technical and management noise control measures are required.
While hearing protection, such as ear plugs and earmuffs are worn by workers to protect them against excessive noise, the best way to reduce hearing loss is by preventing it in the first place. The Control of Noise at Work Regulations came
into force for Great Britain on 6 April 2006 to ensure that workers’ hearing is protected from excessive noise at their place of work.
Under the legislation employers’ need to assess the risk of hazardous noise levels and this needs to be carried out by a competent individual. As a result, it is crucial for companies to have a trained professional who is able to monitor their working environment and advise them on the actions that need to be taken to prevent employees suffering occupational hearing loss.
In order to save time and be cost effective, noise monitoring can be carried out by an existing employee, who is trained to the required level of competence outlined by the Noise at Work Regulations.
APPROPRIATE TRAINING If you are currently considering assessing your workplace noise levels, Casella’s one day Noise at Work courses could be of use. The course covers a basic understanding of noise in terms of measuring frequency and amplitude. Participants learn what the ‘3dB’ rule is and how
noise can affect a person’s hearing in different ways.
Under the section on legislation, participants are taught what actions are required in lower, upper and above upper exposure levels. Hands-on training takes place using sound level meters and dosimeters to show the variety of instruments available to monitor noise. Participants are shown how to turn the readings from the noise monitors and dosimeters into values that help them determine the most appropriate form of hearing protection, if required, for the worker. At the end of the one day course, participants sit a test and once completed successfully are awarded a certificate in measuring and reporting of noise in the workplace.
Hearing loss caused by work is preventable but once your hearing, or that of your workers, has gone it won’t come back. Employers have a responsibility to ensure their employees are not exposed to excessive noise. Monitoring for noise is a great preventative measure that can be done easily by a competent person.
www.casellasolutions.com
A BIT ABOUT CASELLA Casella is dedicated to reducing occupational health and environmental impact risks through effective monitoring solutions. Casella has provided precision instrumentation since 1799, supplying eminent figures including Charles Darwin with instrumentation for exploration and scientific work. The company then went on to patent the Mercury Thermometer in 1861 and by 1961, the products you see today started to take shape when they developed the first personal air sampling pump.
Casella has changed significantly over these 200 plus years but still offers solutions for Occupational and Environmental monitoring of noise and dust.
Casella’s aim is to enhance the long term health and quality of life for workers in high risk occupational sectors and to monitor the impact on the environment through innovative technology, easy to use products and expertise that can be trusted.
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