Noise and vibration roadshows ride again

E050:06 25 April 2006

Over 1.1 million people are at risk from high levels of noise at work and about 1.7 million people are at risk from Hand Arm Vibration(HAV).

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the EEF - the manufacturers' organisation, are running four more roadshows on Noise and Vibration that will give no nonsense advice for employers of the recent changes in EU regulations.

They are aimed at all who manage risk at work, including managing directors, production managers, health and safety Advisers and safety representatives. Those who attend will hear what the new regulations mean in practice, gain insight into practical risk management, including solutions and what they need to do to arrange effective health surveillance for exposed employees.

HSE and the EEF ran sixteen Noise and Vibration roadshows in 2005 and as last year an interactive theatre company, known as Dramanon, will be used to bring the issues alive in and interesting and refreshing way.

New EU-based regulations for the control of risks from vibration at work came into force in Great Britain last July (2005) and recently for the control of noise (6 April 2006).

Robert Vaughan, HSE's Noise and Vibration Programme Manager said, "Noise and vibration are major and serious health risks for millions of people at work. The new Regulations provide a sound framework for tackling these problems effectively. The roadshows will show that the regulations are not complex or difficult to comply with and are, in fact, quite straightforward and workable. They will give us the chance to explain the new regulations in more depth, to demonstrate some practical solutions and to answer questions employers and others may have. I am very pleased that HSE and EEF are working together to deliver these."

Steve Walter, EEF's Health, Safety and Environmental Policy Adviser, said "The issues on noise and vibration are very topical at the moment and we have made the roadshows informative and engaging. We will encourage a lively debate and informed discussion on all the issues surrounding the new Noise and Vibration Regulations. As key HSE stakeholder partners, we believe it is important that employers talk with experts in HSE to learn more about the implications of the new regulations. We want a real dialogue and exchange between the audience and the experts to take place."

Dates for Noise and Vibration Road Shows 2006

For further information either email the contact addresses shown above or visit the EEF website www.eef.org.uk or HSE website www.hse.gov.uk.

Notes to editors

1. The Control of vibration at Work Regulations 2005 came into force on 6 July 2005. More information about the regulations can be found at: www.hse.gov.uk/vibration/index.htm

2. The control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 came into force on 5 April 2006. More information can be found at: www.hse.gov.uk/noise/index.htm

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