An ability to withstand noise is a very macho trait. Look at examples in life outside of work – car stereos and discos are two examples of occasions where for many people the attitude is the louder the better. This attitude also occurs in the workplace – many people tolerate unacceptably high levels of noise because of the macho factor. However, if the noise exposures are too high they can permanently damage your hearing.

You may not notice you have a problem at first. It may take a great many years of noise exposure before you notice you have a problem, by which time it is too late. The damage is permanent and irreversible. Symptoms that are found include

• Difficulty in hearing similar sounding words

• Difficulty in hearing the television

• An inability to pick out where a voice has come from

• Tinnitus

What does the law say about noisy workplaces?

The Noise at Work Regulations place a number of requirements on your employer. If you are unable to hear a colleague talking normally standing two metres away from you or if you go home from work with your ears ringing you should ask your Employer if they have had the noise assessed.

Should the noise assessment find your exposure be found to reach the Action Levels, your Employer is required to take a number of steps including:

• Inform you of the areas where noise levels are too high and warn you about the risks to your hearing

• Control the noise

• Provide you with suitable hearing protection

• Mark out "Ear Protection Zones"

• Provide you with training and information relating to noise control equipment and hearing protection.

But I don’t work in a "traditional noisy industry"…

A report by the Royal Institute of the Deaf and the TUC titles "Indecent Exposure" was released in March 1999. The report highlighted professions not usually associated with occupational deafness such as working in a call centre, as a motorcycle despatch rider or as a sound engineer, as well as looking at those where the risk to hearing is established, but not enough is being done to protect the workforce.

Information packs for employees and employers are available from RNID Helpline on 0870 6050123.

Where can I get further information?

• Read some of the other pages on this site. These will give you an insight into many of the issues relating to noise in the workplace.

• Visit the HSE web pages to get further information.

• Two pamphlets "HEAR THIS!" (IND(G)201P) and "Noise at work – a guide for employees" (INDG99) are available free from HSE Books, PO Box 1999, Sudbury, Suffolk, CO10 6FS Tel: 01787 881165.

REMEMBER

"It’s your hearing – protect it or lose it!"