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MACHINE SAFETY


Protection from machinery noise


T


he NOMAD project was a survey to examine the noise- related content of instructions supplied with machinery offered for purchase in the European Economic Area (EEA). It was also the first joint


Member States project under the Machinery Directive aimed at market surveillance. The resulting guide is available via the HSE


website and states that purchasers are seeking to buy quieter machinery:


To protect their employees from noise- induced hearing damage.


To avoid accidents caused by failure to hear warnings and messages.


To reduce work having to be redone because of poor communication in noisy environments or reduced attention caused by noise stress.


To avoid the cost of retrospectively fitting engineering noise controls.


To minimise the cost of providing and managing the use of hearing protection.


To avoid the cost of providing health surveillance for noise.


To avoid enforcement action by national authorities.


To prevent civil claims from employees for hearing loss caused by workplace noise exposure.


The Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations


2008, which is the UK implementation of the European Machinery Directive, require manufacturers to provide information so that their machinery can be used by workers in industry without risk from noise. This information includes numerical values for:


Emission sound pressure level Peak sound pressure level Sound power level All three values should help identify low-noise


models when buying new machinery, while the


emission sound pressure level and peak sound pressure level should alert employers to any potential noise hazards for their workers.


LegaL requirements Employers and dutyholders are required under the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) to provide workers with equipment that meets relevant supply laws. They must also adhere to the Control of Noise at Work Regulations, and the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) offers guidance which sets out an employer’s legal obligations. In its L108 document, the HSE states that


noise-related damages are entirely preventable if:


Employers take action to reduce exposure to noise and provide personal hearing protection and health surveillance to employees.


Employees make use of the personal hearing protection or other control measures supplied.


Manufacturers design tools and machinery to operate more quietly.


Manufacturers of machinery are legally


required to provide information about the noise emissions from their machinery if it exceeds certain levels. They are also legally required to ensure that machinery is designed and constructed to reduce noise risks to the lowest level, alongside use of protective measures and information relating to any remaining noise risk. Purchasers of machinery should therefore expect equipment that is being sold on the market to reflect technical progress in low-noise design. To ensure that noise levels are minimised, not


only should purchasers take noise into account when selecting machinery, it should also be maintained in accordance with manufacturers’ recommendations. Machines deteriorate with age and use and, if they are not maintained appropriately, they are likely to generate more noise because of worn parts, poor lubrication and the vibration of loose panels. Appropriate maintenance should therefore


prevent noise emissions increasing over time and ensure that a machine’s performance does not deteriorate so that it puts employees at risk from increased noise emissions. Likewise, it is vital to have a company policy in place that requires machinery operators to


14 octoBer/noVemBer 2022 | inDustrial comPliance


By Paul taylor, business development director for industrial services at tÜV sÜD


report any unusually high noise levels and that they regularly check that machines are operating properly. The Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations


2008, which is the UK implementation of the European Union’s (EU) Machinery Directive, require manufacturers and suppliers of machinery to comply with particular essential health and safety requirements (EHSRs):


Produce machinery that can be used without risk, including risk from noise


Alert users to residual risks including risks from noise – for example, when a noise test code produces noise emission values that do not represent noise emissions during intended uses of machines


Include the information on airborne noise emissions in the sales literature describing the performance characteristics of the machinery


Provide information in the instructions accompanying the machinery, including instructions on how to reduce risks from noise:


How to install the machine for minimum noise


Instructions for use of the machinery and, if necessary, any training of operators


Information about the residual risks remaining, including noise risks


Instructions on the measures to be taken by the user, including the hearing protection to be provided


Information on airborne noise emissions, including the uncertainties surrounding these values


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