HSE launches initiative to encourage quieter workplaces
Categories:
General Health and Safety |
In a bid to reduce noise-related ill health in the workplace, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is encouraging manufacturers to make quieter machines.
According to HSE statistics, 170,000 people in the UK suffer deafness, tinnitus or other ear conditions as a consequence of exposure to excessive noise at work.
The purpose of the new HSE campaign is to urge all employers and employees to consider the changes they could implement to reduce the risk of noise-related injury.
As part of the 'Buy Quiet' campaign, the relevant parties are being provided with information on the legal aspects of noise emissions and the commercial implications of producing low-noise machinery.
In addition, that campaign promises to help employers identify and manage risks of exposure to excessive noise.
Sarah Haynes, HSE inspector for noise and vibration, explained that noise-related health problems can have "a devastating impact on workers and their families".
She said: "HSE will continue to engage with industry to raise awareness of the potential benefits, both health-related and commercial, of producing low-noise machinery."
As a consequence of the dangers posed by working with machinery, the HSE urges employees to ensure that they use the correct
workwear in order to minimise risk.
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