HSE Campaign: Employers to prevent noise and vibration damage
Noise and vibration are two of the more common hazards in UK workplaces. Hearing loss and hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) often develop slowly, and by the time a worker notices a problem, some of the damage could already be permanent.
That is the message behind a new campaign from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), launched during Bone and Joint Health Week. We have dissected the campaign and outlined the key elements employers need to know, and how health surveillance can help.
The figures behind the campaign
HSE reports that around 15,000 workers develop hearing problems caused or made worse by work every year. It also estimates that one in five workers are exposed to harmful levels of noise at work.
Exposure often comes from the tools and machinery people use every day, across multiple sectors including construction, manufacturing, agriculture, utilities, entertainment, events and more. Regular exposure to loud noise can cause permanent hearing loss or tinnitus in employees. And frequent contact with hand-arm vibration could lead to HAVS and carpal tunnel syndrome, causing numbness, tingling, pain and reduced grip strength.
Assess. Control. Protect.
HSE’s campaign asks employers to follow three steps.
Assess
Identify which employees could be exposed to noise and vibration, and the potential underlying risks.
Control
Choose quieter or lower-vibration equipment and conduct regular tools and machinery maintenance.
Protect
Provide suitable hearing protection and arrange health surveillance where required. Ensure that workers are provided with information, instruction and training to protect themselves moving forwards.
Employers have legal duties to assess and control these risks under the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 and the Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005. The campaign provides practical tools and guidance through HSE’s Work Right campaign website to help businesses put this into practice.
How Medigold Health supports noise and vibration surveillance
Flexible delivery
Through our fleet of 30+ mobile screening units, staffed by experienced Technicians and Screening Nurses, we can bring our services to you, reducing downtime for your teams. For smaller groups, or workers who need a specialist appointment, we operate over 60 clinics across the UK.
Coordinated assessments
Our Mobile Operations Team works with you to integrate an annual schedule of visits, so employees are screened in line with your risk assessments within the agreed timescales.
Clinical oversight
Flagged results go to our Chief Medical Officer, who provides recommendations within 48 hours. That might mean a repeat test, a GP visit or a referral to an Occupational Health Doctor.
Online dashboards
Managers can request individual checks through our online referral forms, and our management information dashboards provide fitness outcomes and trends across your workforce.
Check your health surveillance is keeping up
HSE’s campaign is an essential reminder to employers that noise and vibration-related ill health is preventable when action is taken early. If you are not sure whether your workforce is covered by the right checks, or you want to review your current approach, our team is here to help.
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HSE Campaign: Employers to prevent noise and vibration damage
Noise and vibration are two of the more common hazards in UK workplaces. Hearing loss and hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) often develop slowly, and by the time a worker notices a problem, some of the damage could already be permanent. That is the message behind a new campaign from the[...]
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