Research estimates that 170,000 people in the UK suffer deafness, tinnitus or other ear conditions as a result of excessive noise at work. The problem occurs in many workplaces, but particularly in the manufacturing and construction industries, as well as farms, transport operations, mines and quarries. For more information on the issue of noise in the workplace please visit HSE's Noise homepage. Hear for yourself what it is like to have noise induced hearing loss.

The European Agency ( European Agency for Safety and Health at Work.) chose the message 'Stop That Noise' for the European Week 2005 campaign, and it may indeed be possible to eliminate excessive noise at source in some cases. But often it will be more realistic to control noise to get down to a more reasonable level; to amend work patterns to reduce exposure; and after that to provide workers with suitable hearing protection. Very often there will be proven solutions available to help employers reduce noise in their workplace.

The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 came into force on 6 April 2006 and are the result of an EU-led initiative – the Physical Agents (Noise) Directive. These new Regulations will help to prevent occupational noise-induced hearing loss and the supporting guidance will contain simple practical measures that employers can take to reduce exposure to noise at work.

View more information on the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005

Further information on noise at work is available by contacting the Health and Housing (Commercial Team) or email Health and Housing (Commercial Team)

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