Managing Noise and Vibration at Work

Book excerpt: New EU Physical Agents Directives on Noise and Vibration will be incorporated into UK law by February 2006. Explicit action levels for vibration will be introduced, while the action levels for noise will be drastically cut. In order to comply with these Directives, companies need to assess noise and vibration levels and provide necessary protection for their employees. They are also required to monitor and if necessary reduce noise and vibration risks. Managing Noise and Vibration at Work introduces noise and both hand-arm and whole-body vibration by explaining what they are and how they can affect the body, drawing out the similarities and differences between the hazards. It provides clear explanations of the requirements of the EU Directives and explains how to fulfill them. Practical information on measurement, making noise and vibration assessments, and approaches to controlling risk help the reader to understand the issues of noise and vibration exposure in the workplace. The text is supported by information and diagrams of measuring equipment, advice on how to plan a survey, worked examples of necessary calculations, and charts and diagrams that can be used in place of the calculations. Suitable hearing and vibration protection is detailed. Case studies help to set the subject in context and highlight common errors and pitfalls. The book fully covers the syllabuses of the Institute of Acoustics’ certificate courses in Workplace Noise Assessment and Management of Occupational Exposure to Hand-arm Vibration. It will also be of use to those studying for the Diploma in Acoustics and Noise Control. For those studying for the NEBOSH Diploma in Health and Safety, this book satisfies modules 1E and 2E. As the Institute of Acoustics syllabuses are based on the Health and Safety Executive's guidelines, the book will also be a useful up-to-date reference for: risk managers; Health and Safety advisors and managers; occupational hygienists; environmental health officers; and HSE inspectors, especially in the Construction, Manufacturing, Agriculture and Forestry sectors. Tim South is a Senior Lecturer in Acoustics at the School of Health and Human Sciences at Leeds Metropolitan University, and a member of the Institute of Acoustics’ Education Committee. He teaches the Institute of Acoustics courses for the Certificate of Competence in Workplace Noise Assessment, the Certificate in the Management of Occupational Exposure to Hand-arm Vibration, and also the Institute’s Diploma in Acoustics and Noise Control. He has extensive consultancy experience in workplace noise assessments, hand-arm vibration and whole-body vibration exposure assessments.