Is your workplace noisy?
High levels of noise at work can cause hearing damage. A little damage happens every time it is noisy, gradually adding up to serious harm. Young people can be damaged as easily as the old. Sufferers often first start to notice hearing loss when they cannot keep up with conversations in a group, or when the rest of their family complains they have the television on too loud. Deafness can make people feel isolated from their family, friends and colleagues.
- Are there times when the workplace is so noisy that people have to shout to each other at normal speaking distance to make themselves heard? If so, there is likely to be a danger to hearing.
- Are noisy powered tools or machinery in use for at least part of the day?
- Are there noisy bangs from hammering, explosive or impact tools, or guns?
- Are there areas where noise could interfere with warning and danger signals?
What law applies?
- Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005
Vibration
Are you exposed to vibration?
Vibration from work with powered handheld tools, equipment or processes can damage the hands and arms of users causing ‘handarm vibration syndrome’. This is a painful, irreversible condition which includes ‘vibration white finger’ and the effects can be impaired blood circulation, damage to the nerves and muscles, and loss of ability to grip properly. Back pain can be caused by or aggravated by vibration from a vehicle or machine passing through the seat into the driver’s body through the buttocks – known as wholebody vibration. Wholebody vibration can also be caused by standing on the platform of a vehicle or machine, so vibration passes into the operator through their feet.
- Does anyone work with handheld and handguided tools and machines such as concrete breakers and vibrating compactor plates and workpieces such as castings which are held against powered machinery such as pedestal grinders?
- Does anyone doing this work get tingling or numbness in the fingers or hands?
- Does anyone often drive offroad machinery such as tractors, dumper trucks or excavators or unsuspended vehicles such as forklift trucks?
What law applies?
- Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005
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