Employers have been warned they could face a wave of compensation claims when the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 come into force on 6 April
The updated regulations reduce the noise level at which workers are required to have hearing protection available or at which they must wear such protection.
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But the TUC and RNID (the Royal National Institute for the Deaf and hard of hearing), have warned that many employers are unprepared for the new regime, while employees need to be educated about their rights under the legislation.
Excessive noise in the workplace causes half a million people in the UK to suffer deafness or other ear difficulties, according to the RNID.
