Sound Warnings Ahead of Legislation

Firms have been warned that they could face a barrage of compensation claims from staff if they fail to heed moves to protect workers' hearing.

Tight regulations will come into force in April aimed at reducing workplace noise and protecting employees.

Hugh Robertson, of the TUC, said "a wave of compensation claims from staff" could occur if new rules were ignored.

The TUC has urged firms to replace noisy machinery, install materials that absorb sound and provide quiet areas.

These pleas have been made jointly with the Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID), who have called for companies to follow the new regulations.

Mr Robertson, the TUC's senior health and safety executive, said: "If properly implemented these regulations will save the hearing of literally hundreds of thousands of people.

"Better to rigorously enforce safe noise levels to prevent hearing damage, in industry but also entertainment and construction, than leave employees to go through the courts for compensation after their hearing has already been harmed."

Unionsafety argued for a real campaign with regard to the effect on contact centres of the new legislation and following the Acoustic Safety conference in London last november in a previous news item:

"Whilst we have seen a 45% increase in cases of WRULDs according to research figures issued last year, the current reports of Acoustic Shock are just the tip of the ice burg in the view of the CWU and those attending the conference in November."

In the meantime, daytime TV and radio has seen an increase in advertising form 'ambulance chasing' claims companies highlighting this issue, but providing no support for action on prevention.

USRs now need to gear themselves up to ensure the latest threat to workers health and safety that the media has woken up to is in fact not allowed to develop into an epidemic of injuries resulting in compensation claims, a worsening of H&S culture and the human misery caused by hearing damage.

Further info: Acoustic Safety

Source: BBC News

Designed, Hosted and Maintained by Union Safety Services