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Market Report: Health & Safety pt2: Hand arm vibration, noise & dust Sound business opportunities Nigel Strickland suggests that legislation on workplace noise should create demand for specialist equipment from hirers, and discovers that some are already benefiting. The Control of Noise at Work Regulations (CNWR) are aimed at “protecting persons against risks to their health and safety from noise at work by eliminating risks from noise at source or, where this is not reasonably practicable, reduced to as low as reasonably practicable”. Their ambitious goal, based on European Union Directives, is to eliminate all new cases of hearing loss through noise at work by 2030. This is justified by Health & Safety Executive (HSE) statistics, which suggest more than 500,000 UK workers suffer from deafness and other conditions caused by harmful noise at work with a further one million considered at risk. The construction industry, which employs over two million workers, has been identified by HSE as a target sector, where exposure to loud noise can cause temporary or irreversible hearing damage, as well as being a causal factor in workplace accidents. Workers may be exposed not only to the noise created by their own activity, but also to the ambient, or background, noise of other tasks on site. Exposure to excessive noise can cause gradual hearing loss, often only becoming apparent when combined with the effects of ageing. At this stage, understanding words and quality of speech becomes adversely affected, especially when set against background noise or in a crowd of people. Other damaging effects can include tinnitus, the perception of sound where no external source is present and often described as constant ringing, hissing or humming. Revised exposure limits HSE has introduced revised upper and lower noise exposure limits. The lower exposure action value (EAV) is 80dB and at this level employers must assess the risk to workers' health, provide information, instruction and training, and observe a peak sound pressure of 135dB. Employers also have a responsibility at the 80dB lower limit to provide personal protective protection (PPE) on request and ensure its correct use. The upper daily or weekly average exposure level, at which employers must provide hearing protection and hearing protection zones, has been lowered by 5dB to 85dB, with a peak sound pressure of 137dB. All duties identified for the lower action values must be implemented, along with the reduction of exposure by technical and organisational measures. Again, PPE must be provided to all workers exposed to these levels. Employers must also provide health surveillance (hearing checks) for all employees likely to be regularly exposed to levels above the upper EAVs, or who are at risk for any reason, such as already suffering from hearing loss. Finally, a new absolute exposure limit value (ELV), above which workers must not be exposed, has been set at 87dB (taking into account any reduction provided by hearing protection), with a peak sound pressure of 140dB. These changes may appear minor, but with noise levels doubling with every 3dB, their impact is significant. HSE (www.hse.gov.uk) provides a wealth of support material including noise exposure calculators to help work out daily and weekly exposure along with hearing protection guidance. However, the measurement and analysis of noise exposure limits are only a part of a larger process, with the control and management of noise as the primary objective. Assessment of the risk by a competent person should be the starting point, followed by the elimination of the hazard wherever possible. Alternative methods can often be found. For example, the use of breakers within a confined space could be replaced by a hydraulic nibbler. Where the risk cannot be eliminated, can it be controlled, or can the exposure time be reduced? As a last resort, can personal hearing protection control the risk? Besides providing advice and training, employers should review procedures to see if changes become necessary. The hire industry’s reaction How has the hire industry reacted, and what specific opportunities exist to support the construction industry in light of the HSE’s ambitious target? Where noise levels need to be measured, the appropriate monitoring equipment obviously needs to be supplied. The major tool and equipment hirers now offer noise measuring equipment in their hire fleets, either as mainstream fleet items or via specialist equipment divisions. The hire market for noise monitors is also extremely well served by a multitude of specialist instrument hirers, who supply equipment including noise exposure lapel badges that measure a worker’s actual dosage during a shift. HSE guidance notes recommend the implementation of a low-noise procurement (purchase and hire) policy and here the hire industry has been active for many years, supplying noise-suppressed plant for sensitive areas. However, the customer-led demand for noise-suppressed equipment is definitely increasing. Speedy Hire reports a healthy increase in demand being met through a pre-emptive purchasing policy. Interestingly, A-Plant’s procurement involves working closely with suppliers at the manufacturing stage, to ensure equipment achieves the lowest noise levels. Manufacturers and hirers are now obliged to supply information regarding noise emissions to enable customers to perform accurate assessment of noise output levels. Where once noise-suppressed hire equipment was the exception, it is now rapidly becoming the norm. The use of ancillary hire items and consumables also needs consideration, as is clearly identified in literature produced by Hewden. The variation in noise levels produced from a cut-off saw, using four different types of diamond blade, showed a variation of 3dB and wide disparity in cutting times, demonstrating the radical effect of accessory selection on noise exposure. The noise action values of the CNWR specify that suitable PPE should be available at the lower noise action level, and it is mandatory at the upper level. Regardless of the fact that protection should be seen as a last resort, and not a long-term solution, there is a clearly a sizeable and growing demand for it. However, the Regulations also state that any hearing protection must be compatible with other PPE such as safety helmets, eye protection and respirators. Clearly the hire industry needs to ensure frontline staff are adequately trained to give advice, assistance and training in PPE selection. Monitoring the impact As well as monitoring the impact of Regulations on construction, hirers must also recognise that the requirements are equally applicable to their own employees! Speedy has made the wearing of effective PPE a major staff issue, with internal promotional campaigns and training emphasising that any PPE must match their working environments. The Regulations have also created an opportunity to provide customer training. A-Plant reports strong demand for its relevant toolbox talks from major customers, and the issue of noise is a key component of its involvement in the HSE’s Working Well Together roadshow. Hewden has produced excellent detailed literature in its Shout About Noise campaign, highlighting key legislative elements and listing decibel levels for equipment in its hire fleet. Speedy has produced literature with a Keep The Noise Down theme, and claims to have pioneered the use of references to manufacturers' decibel figures in its catalogue. The impact of the CNWR on the hire industry is becoming increasingly evident. Innovative strategies are evolving through purchasing, monitoring, training and support to the construction industry. And as awareness expands, so do the openings for all players to spot commercial opportunities and to enhance their role beyond purely tool and equipment hire. • Executive Hire News › Archives › April 2007 › Market Report › Sound business opportunities
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