The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has launched a new campaign urging employers to take action on workplace noise and vibration before workers suffer permanent, life-changing health problems. The campaign focuses on preventing conditions such as hearing loss, tinnitus and Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS), all of which can develop gradually and often go unnoticed until lasting damage has already occurred.
According to HSE, around 15,000 workers develop hearing problems caused or made worse by their work every year, while an estimated one in five workers is exposed to harmful levels of noise in the workplace.
A Hidden Workplace Hazard
Noise and vibration are common risks across many industries, including construction, manufacturing, agriculture, engineering, utilities, waste management and maintenance. Everyday tools, machinery and equipment can expose workers to levels of noise and vibration that pose a serious risk to health over time.
The danger is that symptoms often develop slowly. Workers may not realise their hearing is being damaged until conversations become more difficult or persistent ringing in the ears begins. Similarly, prolonged exposure to vibration can lead to HAVS or carpal tunnel syndrome, causing numbness, tingling, pain and reduced grip strength. In severe cases, these conditions can affect a person’s ability to work and complete simple everyday tasks.
The HSE’s Three-Step Approach
To help employers tackle these risks, the campaign promotes a simple but effective approach:
Assess
Identify where noise and vibration hazards exist, determine who may be affected, and carry out suitable risk assessments.
Control
Reduce exposure wherever possible. This may include selecting quieter or lower-vibration equipment, maintaining machinery properly, introducing engineering controls, and changing working practices to minimise risk.
Protect
Where risks cannot be fully eliminated, employers should provide appropriate hearing protection, implement health surveillance where required, and ensure workers receive the information, instruction and training they need to stay safe.
Legal Responsibilities
The campaign also serves as a reminder that employers have specific legal duties under the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 and the Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005. These regulations require organisations to assess risks and take suitable measures to protect workers from harm.
Prevention Is Better Than Cure
HSE’s message is clear: don’t wait for symptoms to appear. Early intervention can prevent serious health conditions that may affect workers for the rest of their lives. By assessing risks, implementing effective controls and maintaining a proactive approach to health and safety, employers can protect their workforce and help prevent avoidable occupational ill health.
For employers, the challenge is not simply complying with regulations. It’s recognising that preventing noise and vibration-related health problems is far easier, and far less costly, than dealing with the lifelong consequences once the damage has been done.
We have worked with Safewell for many years and are retained clients, so we have developed an excellent working relationship with the team. However, this really came into its own when Covid 19 appeared.
As a Plumbing and Heating business, we were able to carry on working during the lockdown but only for responding to emergencies. We were obviously very concerned about the health and safety of our employees and before we even had chance to get in touch with Safewell, they had emailed us offering their assistance. It is hard to put down on paper how that made us feel - we like everyone else felt totally at sea, which way to turn, what to do? But Safewell were there guiding, supporting and being totally brilliant. Their attention to detail is very impressive and reassuring and we feel able to ask lots of questions without feeling silly.
During the pandemic Safewell helped us to write risk assessments, safety procedures and protocols. They kept in touch regularly, issuing new guidance as soon as it appeared and checking in with us. They held group Q&A sessions over Zoom which were helpful, and knowing other businesses were facing the same challenges and having the opportunity to discuss issues was invaluable. Their help during the preparation for a full return to work was brilliant, they enabled us to be fully prepared and feel in control, and when we had our first case of Covid within the team, because we had planned our response it felt ok.
I think our team felt very reassured by our robust approach and that our office was Covid secure. We are extremely grateful to all the team at Safewell
