Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

Employment lawLatest NewsWellbeingOccupational Health

New noise regulations come into force

by Mike Berry 6 Apr 2006
by Mike Berry 6 Apr 2006

Employers will need to turn the volume down today as new noise regulations come into force.
 
They aim to protect the hearing of up to two million workers and will see action taken at a much lower noise level than is currently the case.

Under the new regulations, the noise levels at which workers will be required to have hearing protection available, and the level at which they will be required to wear protection, have been reduced by 5dB to 80dB and 85dB respectively. 

One million workers in the UK are exposed to noise levels that could damage their hearing, and there are 170,000 cases of deafness, tinnitus or other ear conditions caused by excessive noise at work, according to the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH).

Neil Budworth, president of IOSH, said: “There is an enormous task to be done to raise awareness about preventing hearing damage caused by noise, and I hope that employers are ready to comply with the new regulations.
 
“It’s important to remember that we have people working longer hours and retiring later in life, which means exposure to noise can be greater than in the past.”
 
Many job sectors are likely to be affected by the new regulations, including agriculture, construction, quarrying and mining, transport and entertainment.

Although the music and entertainment industry officially has until April 2008 to comply while still meeting the ‘old’ requirements, Budworth strongly suggested they should take action now.
 
“These new requirements are a golden opportunity to preserve the hearing and quality of life of future generations of workers, and to prevent the feelings of social isolation that deafness can cause,” he said.

http://www.iosh.co.uk/

 

Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance

Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday

OptOut
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

 

 

Mike Berry

previous post
Government unveils plans for Olympics employment drive
next post
Employment law timetable round-up: 6 April

You may also like

Number of Neet women rises but figures fall...

23 May 2025

Bank holidays: six things employers need to know

23 May 2025

Unions ponder strike action after public sector pay...

23 May 2025

Personnel Today Awards 2025: Three weeks left to...

23 May 2025

Sighing in frustration at colleague was discriminatory, judge...

23 May 2025

Flexible working for teachers initiative extended

23 May 2025

Fire and rehire: the relocation question

22 May 2025

Public sector workers gain pay rises of up...

22 May 2025

Six ways to kickstart conversations about team stress...

22 May 2025

UK net migration slashed by half in one...

22 May 2025

  • 2025 Employee Communications Report PROMOTED | HR and leadership...Read more
  • The Majority of Employees Have Their Eyes on Their Next Move PROMOTED | A staggering 65%...Read more
  • Prioritising performance management: Strategies for success (webinar) WEBINAR | In today’s fast-paced...Read more
  • Self-Leadership: The Key to Successful Organisations PROMOTED | Eletive is helping businesses...Read more
  • Retaining Female Talent: Four Ways to Reduce Workplace Drop Out PROMOTED | International Women’s Day...Read more

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2025

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2025 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today