RoSPA Press Office : Press Release

March 14 , 2006
RoSPA HELPS BEAT THE MENACES OF DUST AND NOISE

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents is offering a new service to businesses and organisations that want to be certain that noise and dust levels are being properly controlled.

A RoSPA consultant will carry out checks to ensure companies meet legal requirements and are not threatening their employees’ health.

Roger Bibbings, RoSPA Occupational Safety Adviser, said: “An employer has a duty to control hazards. This includes arrangements for monitoring the atmosphere to check on exposure levels to dust and to measure noise levels so that they are within the limits laid down by regulations.

“Quite apart from being an intolerable nuisance, exposure to dusts which are toxic, carcinogenic or allergenic can pose a major threat to respiratory health.

“Prolonged exposure to excessive noise levels can lead to hearing loss, tinnitus and other problems.

“Companies may find themselves in breach of health and safety law, as well as being liable for claims for damages from people who suffer from asthma and noise-induced hearing loss if they do not keep a close watch on these problems.”

RoSPA’s staff will visit workplaces to monitor levels of noise and/or dust. They provide full reports on current performance and areas where action may be needed to meet legal requirements.

The Society’s noise assessors are recognised by the Institute of Acoustics and will make recommendations about engineering controls, hearing protection programmes, health surveillance and personal protective equipment.

RoSPA consultants act as “competent persons” under the COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) Regulations to assess workplace dust exposure levels.

They use specialist Casella CEL equipment to assess dust exposure levels for individuals and to carry out background monitoring in accordance with HSE guidance on methods for determining hazardous substances. Following analysis, RoSPA provides a report on exposure levels, legal compliance and suggested control measures to prevent exposure or to reduce employee exposure levels to as low as is reasonably practicable.

For more information, contact RoSPA consultancy 0121 248 2034, email consultancy@rospa.com or visit www.rospa.com/consultancy .