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OCCUPATIONAL NOISE AND VIBRATION MANAGEMENT
Identification, assessment and management of risk in the workplace from exposure to noise and vibration
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It is estimated that about one million people in the UK are working in conditions that may damage their hearing unless precautions are taken (source: National Society for Clean Air and Environment Protection, NSCA). Prolonged exposure to high levels of noise can lead to stress, fatigue or even deafness. Employers, and self employed persons, have duties, under the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 (CoNAWR 2005, Regulation 5), to protect both employees who may be at risk of exposure to noise at work and other persons at work who might be affected by that work.
According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE Statistics: Causes and Kind of Disease – Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome), Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) has become the most commonly reported disease under RIDDOR (Reporting of Injuries, Diseases & Dangerous Occurrences Regulations). Over exposure of hands to high levels of vibration can lead to permanent disability of equipment operators. Employers (and the self employed) have a duty to ensure compliance with the Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 (CoVAWR 2005, Regulation 4) in order to identify and manage their employee’s risks from occupational vibration exposure. This duty applies (with the exception of the provision of health surveillance, information, instruction and training, as given to employees), so far as is reasonably practical, to any other person affected by the work carried out by the employer. Employers, the self employed and those persons in control of work equipment also have a duties under The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER 1998). The Regulations require risks to people’s health and safety, from equipment that they use at work to be prevented or controlled.
Failure to comply with the Regulations (CoNAWR and CoVAWR 2005, PUWER 1998) could lead to legal action (liability for compensation, and prosecution under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974). Addressing workplace noise and vibration issues could also improve productivity, through a better working environment, and more efficient plant/operations.
What is Occupational Noise and Vibration Management?
For occupational noise and vibration assessment, the Bureau Veritas turnkey management services embraces all of the requirements for compliance with the Regulations: workplace survey, risk assessment, provision of management plans, policies and procedures to manage risk, project management of remedial works, training, audit and annual re-inspection as well as provision of expert witnesses.
For specialist services to the Oil and Gas Industry, where effective management of noise issues is critical to reducing the risks associated with long-term exposure of personnel, BV Acoustics and Vibration have developed, and offer exclusively, their Noise Exposure Management System (NEMS). This is a comprehensive management system, used on the majority of UKCS offshore installations, to further compliance with the Regulations.
The system assessment calculates noise exposure levels for the workforce, identifies areas or tasks which make the greatest contributions to noise exposures on the installation, and provides risk indicators and recording facilities for assessment of ongoing compliance. The system can also be used to model the potential effectiveness of different noise control measures to ensure cost-effective risk reduction.
Services include:
- Noise assessment
- HAVS (hand-arm vibration syndrome) assessments
- Vibration measurements and compilation of hand held equipment data sheets
- Noise Exposure Management System (NEMS)
- Noise management audits
- Noise design and control studies
- PA and alarm assessments, design and verification (PFEER)
- Identification of tools or processes likely to induce HAVS
- Audiometry programme audits and assessments
- Noise dosimetry programmes
- Project management of remedial works
- Measures to reduce vibration transmitted to the hand
- Training
- Noise at Work Competent Person Courses
- Workplace Noise Assessment Courses and training in the use of NEMS, if required
- Training of local operators in vibration assessment
- Expert witness
What are the key benefits?
- Demonstrate compliance with statutory duty, CoVAWR and PUWER regulations
- Minimise financial liabilities
- Minimise time detracted from core business
- Reduced insurance costs
- Cost-effective screening measurement for tools and/or process type likely to carry vibration risks
- Early warning of potential damage to workers to allow remedial actions to be taken (in line with the Management of Health and Safety at Work (MHSW 1992) regulations)
- Identification of high vibration risks, to allow job plans to be revised
- Addressing noise issues may also improve plant/machinery operation and so, productivity
- Enhanced employee perception as a proactive and caring employer
- Better working environment, better productivity
- Enhanced business image, to visitors, clients, and customers
Recognition
Founded in 1828, Bureau Veritas is a worldwide leader specialised in QHSE and social responsibility services. Certified to ISO 9001 for all of its activities throughout the world, the company actively participates with professional authorities for the development of international standards and regulations. Acoustics and Vibration is a specialist division of Bureau Veritas, a world leader in independent conformity and performance assessment. Many in of our team of acoustic engineers has more than 30 years’ experience in offering specialist noise and vibration consultancy to a wide range of industries. We have an enviable track record in the assessment and control of industrial noise, and particularly extensive experience in the oil & gas, chemical, power generation and pharmaceutical industries.
Network
With a network of 700 offices, and over 26,000 employees in more than 140 countries, Bureau Veritas is uniquely placed to supply its 280,000 customers worldwide. In the UK and Ireland alone Bureau Veritas has 36 Offices and laboratories employing over 1500 staff.
Bureau Veritas Acoustics and Vibration employs over 35 acoustic consultants and engineers in six regional offices located in Aberdeen, Didsbury, Glasgow, London, Southampton, St Albans and Tamworth. These key locations allow us to provide coverage of most of the major conurbations in the UK enabling us to provide timely and cost effective site investigations and technical support. Bureau Veritas’s UK Acoustics and Vibration Consultants and Engineers have worked on projects throughout the world, including Europe, the Middle and Far East.
Our noise and vibration monitoring services are complemented by our extensive range of Bureau Veritas Laboratories, located around the United Kingdom. The combination of Acoustics and Vibration’s expertise and Bureau Veritas Laboratories’ geographical advantage means that we are able to offer a highly competitive and efficient service throughout the UK. In addition Bureau Veritas can provide a complete environmental assessment service including Air Quality, Land and Water Quality, Landscape, Ecology and Environmental Management.
Expertise
Many of Bureau Veritas’s Acoustics and Vibration engineers and consultants have over 30 years experience. All hold professional membership of the Institute of Acoustics and a significant number are Chartered Engineers. Our team includes registered Expert Witnesses. Bureau Veritas retains the highest calibre personnel to provide the level of quality, experience and knowledge essential to the delivery of specialised services and to ensure client satisfaction.
Personalised Services
Bureau Veritas Acoustics and Vibration Division has a proven track record in adapting its services and designing bespoke solutions, such NEMS (Noise Exposure Management System), a comprehensive management system used on the majority of UKCS offshore installations. Experienced Project Managers will carry out a thorough appraisal of your needs which is then balanced against operational and budgetary constraints. From this a step by step “road map” to compliance is devised to ensure all regulatory requirements are considered.
Bureau Veritas recognises the different requirements of its clients and adapts its services to suit customer need and budgets
The specific duty (Regulation 5 of CNAW 2005) is for ‘an employer who carries out work which is liable to expose any employees (and other persons at work…to…(make a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risk from that noise to the health and safety of those employees and the risk assessment shall identify the measures which need to be taken to meet the requirements of these regulations.’’
The workplace noise and vibration assessment has to be reviewed when any significant changes take place in the workplace, and at least annually. There is also a requirement to update the records which form part of the management system, relating to employee training, personal protective equipment (PPE) (issue and maintenance) and health surveillance.
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