Safety Talks #5 - Noise Exposure: Evolving Legislation and Recent Court Actions with Andrew McNeil

In this episode Patrick chats with Andrew McNeil about the impact of noise-related legislation and the outcomes of recent court cases that are game changers in terms of managing noise at source.

Andrew talks first about hearing, the function of listening and the incredible sensitivity of the human ear.

Andrew describes the evolving regulatory framework for noise control in workplaces and the duty of care employers that employers are required to meet.

We chat about cases studies where significant hearing loss was sustained from workplace exposures, including a unique case of acoustic shock syndrome, that resulted in a significant monetary award to the injured employee.

Control of noise at source is a legislated requirement that employers need to be mindful of before PPE and other, less effective, controls are considered. Sound and vibration identification and damping technologies are advancing rapidly. These technologies are further sustained by a variety of consultancy and workplace analysis services that assist employers when investing in noise control methods.

Andrew is Managing Director of McNeil Collective a new breed of health and safety consultancy.

You’ll find more information about Andrew and his organization at www.McNeilcollective.com

Andrew on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-mcneil?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3BRUggv7oKTxisQdGXgzX0oA%3D%3D

Resources for this episode:

• The Court of Appeal judgment in Goldsheider: https://www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/goldscheider-v-roh-judgment.pdf
• The Guardian news paper report on that: https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2018/mar/28/viola-player-wins-royal-opera-house-case-for-hearing-damage
• The European Union directive 2003/10/EC on noise: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32003L0010
• OSHA Technical Manual on noise: https://www.osha.gov/dts/osta/otm/new_noise/#standards
• OSH Noise limits for Canada: https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/phys_agents/exposure_can.html
• Really useful guidance on reducing noise at source from the UK Health and Safety Executive (that is also referred to in the OSHA Technical guide above): http://www.hse.gov.uk/noise/casestudies/soundsolutions/index.htm
• Noise limits in the UK: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/1643/regulation/4/made
• Sound Dead Steel that can be used to cut noise from impact or vibration of panels (amazing product): http://www.sounddeadsteel.com/
• Noise cancelling lightweight panels also amazing: https://www.sonobex.com/
• Motion Amplification Technology from RMS Ltd showing sources of vibration visually: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnHZ6A5N_E0
• Institute of Acoustics, real experts in industrial noise problems and solutions who will be pleased to engage on sources of noise and how to reduce noise at source: https://www.ioa.org.uk/