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The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Noise at Work Policy

Version Number: 2

Effective From: 09 March 2020

Expiry Date: 09 March 2023

Date Ratified: 25 February 2020

Ratified By: Clinical Policy Group

1 Introduction

Exposure to excessive noise can cause hearing damage and even hearing loss. Noise also interferes with communication and may therefore compromise safety at work. The effects of noise may be cumulative and ultimately irreversible. This policy is produced to effectively manage noise at work so as to ensure safety. Noise at work legislation prohibits working in noisy environments and requires the employer to identify those areas or working practices which may give rise to noise problems and make an assessment of the risk. The employer has a general duty under Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 to ensure so far as is reasonably practicable the health, safety and welfare at work of employees. The risk assessment needs to consider options to eliminate or control a hazard in order to decrease the degree of risk to as low as is reasonably practicable.

2 Scope

This policy includes all workers, whether they are working or acting directly or indirectly for or on behalf of the Trust. For convenience this policy will refer to all these groups as staff. Because individuals are affected by noise differently, it is difficult to specify what level of noise is absolutely safe. What we can say is that damage to hearing has been recorded at noise levels above 75-80 db(a), with varying proportions of the population are potentially affected at different noise levels there is no clear boundary between 'safe' and 'unsafe'.

3 Aims

The aim of this policy is to ensure Managers and employees are aware of the legal requirements regarding noise at work and to provide practical guidance on risk assessment and controls associated with noise and risk reduction. 4 Duties (Roles and Responsibilities)

4.1 The Trust

The Trust’s overall responsibility is to provide a safe working environment for all its employees, patients and visitors.

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4.2 Trust Board

The Trust Board is ultimately responsible for fulfilling all Health and Safety duties as an employer, including all statute Health and Safety Law requirements.

4.3 Chief Executive

The Chief Executive has overall responsibility to the Trust Board for ensuring that appropriate and effective health and safety management systems are in place including the management of noise at work.

4.4 Executive Director

The Chief Executive delegates responsibility for health and safety to the Director of Quality and Effectiveness. In practice the Director of Quality and Effectiveness deals with matters of health and safety in close association with Executive Directors, Clinical Directors, Senior Managers and the Trust Health and Safety Lead.

4.5 Directorate Managers, Directorate Directors

Directorate Directors are responsible for ensuring that day to day activities of the Directorate are conducted in a safe and suitable manner and this policy is effectively and correctly employed within their own Directorate.

Directorate Managers have the ultimate responsibility for all health and safety issues within their Directorate. They must ensure that there is a sound local health and safety function as well as develop health and safety awareness and culture within their remit including the prevision of appropriate management of noise at work.

4.6 Heads of Department/Managers

Managers should establish local procedural guidelines specific to their own departments. Managers should ensure that risk assessments are in place to protect at risk employees. Managers are responsible for appointing Departmental Risk Assessors and must ensure that they undergo appropriate training. Managers are responsible for carrying out actions and assessing the outcomes of risk assessments including training, cost and maintenance where necessary to improve the protection of staff. This should be included as part of the Directorate budget setting when compiling budget plans for approval. Risk assessments should be reviewed on an annual basis or as a result in changes to working practices, changes in staff, departmental changes or other arrangements. Managers may need to engage an Occupational Hygienist where assessments are unable to be completed by the Health and Safety Advisors, however this would have to be outsourced by a third party.

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Where ear protection has been identified as necessary through the risk assessment process, heads of department and departmental managers will be responsible for ensuring adequate signage is in place for noisy machines, designated Ear Protection zones or to instruct the use of Ear Defenders. Managers will also be responsible for enforcing the use of Ear Defenders and also checking on a six monthly basis the integrity and condition of the ear protection to ensure it is providing the necessary protection (see Appendix 1). Records of ear protection checks must also be maintained within the department.

4.7 Estates Department

The Estates Department has a duty to ensure that control measures are provided for noise reduction purposes; that these controls are maintained, tested and inspected in accordance with the relevant British or European Standard.

The Estates Department will ensure that any Trust plant with control measures that comes under the control of the Estates Department is tested and maintained in accordance with the relevant planned preventative maintenance schedule.

The Estates Department will also ensure that all new equipment and machinery purchased shall require a check on noise emissions (information from the supplier) and be considered within the procurement decision.

4.8 Occupational Health Department

When indicated by health and safety advisors or departmental managers following the appropriate risk assessment. The Occupational Health department will be responsible for undertaking the health surveillance required by the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005. Those staff members highlighted to Occupational Health department who are likely to be affected by harmful noise in their work areas will undergo a baseline assessment on starting work, which should be carried out on an annual basis for the first two years of employment and then every three years if there has been no cause for concern identified as part of the health screening process.

4.9 Health and Safety Advisors

Health and Safety Advisors will provide advice and guidance to managers and employees on legislative requirements and industry standards regarding noise at work. The Health and Safety Advisors will undertake noise risk assessments and identify control measures necessary reduce noise levels or the identification of ear protection zones. The Health and Safety Advisors will also be responsible for the identification of training needs for employees working in noise protection zones or who operate noisy machinery. The Health and Safety Advisors will provide advice and guidance as regards the types of ear protection required where ear protection has been identified as necessary as the result of a risk assessment.

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4.10 Staff Organisations

Staff organisations will ensure that Health and Safety Representatives are accredited and appropriately trained, and will provide appropriate support to staff as required.

4.11 All Employees

All employees are expected to take reasonable care to ensure the safety of themselves, their colleagues, patients and the public. All employees must comply with legislation, Trust policies and procedures and anything else provided for their protection. All staff must attend all training identified as necessary by their manager through the risk assessment process or a training needs analysis.

5 Legislative Requirements

The Control of Noise at Work Regulations (Noise Regulations 2005) requires employers to prevent or reduce risks to health and safety from exposure to noise at work. Employees have duties under the regulations too.

The Regulations require the Trust as an employer too:

Assess the risks to its employees from noise at work

Take action to reduce the noise exposure that produces those risks

Provide its employees with hearing protection if exposure to excessive noise levels cannot be reduced to a safe limit by other methods

The Trust must ensure that the legal limits on noise exposure are not exceeded

The Trust must provide its employees with sufficient information, instruction and training about noise at work

The Trust must also carry out health surveillance where there is a risk to the health of its staff

The regulations do not apply to:

Members of the public exposed to noise from their non-work activities, or making an informed choice to go to a noisy place and low level noise that is a nuisance but causes no risk of hearing damage

6 Assessment

Any work process, equipment or workplace, which is expected of exposing staff to excessive noise will be subject to a formal assessment using the attached assessment form (see Appendix 2) and carried out by a competent person. Any work area in which staff report that noise distracts or represents a nuisance shall be subject to an assessment to confirm whether there is a case and whether noise levels can be reduced.

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All new equipment and machinery purchased shall require a check on noise emissions (information from the supplier) and be considered within the procurement decision.

Should any work, which as a result of a risk assessment and noise survey indicates levels above the first action level of 80db(a) or a peak pressure level of 135db(c). Employees shall be notified and advised of the risk from noise.

In any area where noise levels exceed the second action level of 85db (a) or a peak pressure level of 137db(c) these areas will be designated as noise protection zones and only authorised staff equipped with the appropriate hearing protection may work in those areas. Employees shall be informed of the risk and provided with appropriate hearing protection free of charge by local management.

Where it is necessary to wear hearing protection, this will reduce the audibility of fire alarms. Visual beacons or strobes may need to be employed in these areas as well.

7 Elimination or Control of Exposure of noise in the workplace

The Trust shall ensure that the risk of exposure to noise at work is eliminated, tackled at source or reduced to as low a level as is reasonably practicable. If exposure is likely to be above the upper action level, the Trust shall reduce exposure to a low a level as is reasonably practicable by establishing and implementing a programme of organisational and technical measures, excluding the provision of hearing protection as set out in schedule 1 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.

8 Training

Where staff have to use hearing protection they will receive information, instruction and training from management on the measures and correct use of equipment provided to safeguard their hearing. Any information or training for employees will be appropriate to the health surveillance they will receive. Noise awareness and ear protection training will be provided by the Health and Safety Department for all new and existing employees working in defined ear protection zones on a three yearly basis.

9 Equality and Diversity

The Trust is committed to ensuring that, as far as is reasonably practicable, the way we provide services to the public and the way we treat our staff reflects their individual needs and does not discriminate against individuals or groups on any grounds. This document has been appropriately assessed.

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10 Monitoring and Compliance

Standards Monitoring and audit

Method By Committee Frequency

Completion of Noise Risk Assessment

Health and Safety Compliance Questionnaire

Health and Safety Advisors

Health and Safety Committee

Annual

11 Consultation and Review

This policy has been circulated to: Health and Safety Clinical Governance and Risk Head of Nursing Trust Health and Safety Committee Clinical Practice Group Occupational Health Department

12 Implementation

Further advice and guidance will be available from the Health and Safety Advisors and the Occupational Health Department.

13 References

Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 revised 2004 The Personal Protective Equipment Regulations 1992 Health Surveillance at Work HSG61 The Control of Noise at Work Regulations (Noise Regulations 2005) Controlling noise at work. Guidance on the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005. L108, ISBN 0 7176 6164 4 HSE Books Sound Advice: Control of noise at work in music and entertainment. HSG260, 0 7176 6307 1 HSE Books Sound Solutions in Food and Drink: Reducing noise in food and drink manufacturing. HSG232, ISBN 0 7176 2548 6, HSE Books

14 Associated Documentation

HSE’s free employers leaflet Noise at Work – Advice for employers INDG362 (rev 1) Noise – Don’t lose your hearing (HSE’s free pocket card) INDG363

Author: Health and Safety Advisor

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Ear Defender Inspection Record Appendix 1

EARMUFFS INSPECTION RECORD Department: Type(s) of hearing defender: (Make and Model) Checklist 1. Condition of cushions: are they torn or hardened with age? 2. Tension of headbands 3. Unauthorised modifications such as holes drilled in earmuffs? 4. General condition and functioning parts 5. General cleanliness The earmuffs should be replaced or repaired if all the above criteria are not met. It is good practice to keep a set of protectors in a new condition for comparison.

EMPLOYEE NAME DATE OF

INSPECTION ACCEPTABLE/UNACCEPTABLE ACTION REQUIRED INSPECTORS

SIGNATURE

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Noise Assessment Document Appendix 2

DIRECTORATE / AREA DEPARTMENT / WARD EMPLOYEE GROUP / UNIT

2

Manager(s) involved in the Assessment:

Advising Safety Adviser:

Date Completed: Date to be Reviewed: (at least every 2 years)

Leq noise readings taken from Noise report:

Report No Date issued

3

Noise producing tool, operation, or location

Noise readings

dB(A)

Estimated duration of exposure or use per Day / Week*

(Hours)

Estimated noise exposure per tool, operation, or

location. (LEP’d) per daily shift

dB (LEP’d)

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CONCLUSION AND CONTROL MEASURES Information, Instruction, & training must be given to all employees exposed. In addition, managers should, actively seek means of reducing the overall noise exposure of employees, ensure that exposure to noise is reduced to below 87 dB (A) for daily or weekly noise, and or a peak sound pressure of 140 dB. This is the level of noise a person must not be exposed to, when taking into consideration the reduction provided by hearing protection. POSSIBLE EFFECTS OF EXPOSURE TO HIGH NOISE LEVELS Noise can cause hearing loss that can be temporary or permanent. People often experience temporary deafness after leaving a noisy place. Although hearing recovers within a few hours, this should not be ignored. It is a sign that if you continue to be exposed to the noise your hearing could be permanently damaged. Permanent hearing damage can be caused immediately by sudden, extremely loud, explosive noises, e.g. from guns or cartridge-operated machines. Hearing loss is usually gradual because of prolonged exposure to noise. Hearing loss is not the only problem. People may develop tinnitus (ringing, whistling, buzzing or humming in the ears), a distressing condition which can lead to disturbed sleep.

CONTROL OF NOISE AT WORK REGULATIONS

The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 require employers to prevent or reduce risks to health and safety from exposure to noise by assessing the risks to employees, take action to reduce the noise exposure that produces those risks, provide employees with hearing protection if noise exposure cannot be reduced by other methods, make sure legal limits are not exceeded and provide employees with information, instruction and training In some cases health surveillance may be required. Employees must make full and proper use of personal hearing protectors provided and of any other control measures provided by his employer in compliance with the regulations. If an employee discovers any defect in personal hearing protectors or other control measures it must be reported as soon as is practicable.