However, there are times when a more structured approach to managing noise risks can be beneficial. This may be because of the size of the business, or the range or complexity of noise risks. The benefits of a more structured or systematic approach are to provide a firm basis for making the right decisions on controlling noise risks and taking appropriate actions that will stand up to scrutiny if or when the time comes, such as when HSE calls to discuss how you are protecting workers’ hearing.
A structured approach may also assist in keeping the topic in focus – with hearing damage, as with many occupational diseases, poor risk management today may not show up as damage until sometime in the future; equally, action taken to control risks may not show an immediate benefit, such as might be the case with a safety-related issue that can be tracked with accident statistics. If you’re worried that the topic of noise may be overlooked, try embedding control of noise risks within a system approach.
Finch has developed benchmarks for noise risk management, with criteria and positive indicators – derived from our years of experience in helping businesses tackle noise at work. They address all those areas crucial for the control of noise risk and prevention of harm, from the organisational arrangements to the sharp end of noise control, covering:
- Management/organisational arrangements;
- Risk assessment;
- Control of exposure and hazard;
- Personal hearing protection;
- Workforce training & engagement; and,
- Health surveillance.
