’Stop that noise!’ is the theme of this year’s European Week For Safety and Health at Work. This European campaign against excessive noise at work will take place 24-28 October 2005.
High and consistent noise in the work place is an underestimated health risk and may lead to deafness, tinnitus and other health problems. About one in four employees in the EU find themselves exposed to such high noise levels that they have to raise their voices at least half the time at work.
The ’Stop that noise!’ campaign is run by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work and aims to provide a wide range of information and support to reduce noise levels in the working place. For more information see: ’Stop that noise!’
Gender issues in safety and health at work
The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work has published a report titled Gender issues in safety and health at work. Because of substantial differences in the working lives and employment situation of women and men and therefore health and safety at work, gender issues need to be taken into account when considering work-related risks and their prevention.
European directive on noise at work to enter into force
In 2003, Directive 2003/10/EC [1] of the European Parliament and of the Council on the minimum health and safety requirements regarding the exposure of workers to the risks arising from physical agents (noise) was adopted.
Protection against noise effects has been one of the priorities at the European level since an early stage of the development of the occupational health and safety policy.
The main characteristic of the noise directive is to establish a clear and coherent prevention strategy capable of protecting the health and safety of workers exposed to noise.
Article 5(1) of the directive requires that, taking into account technical progress and the measures available to control the risk at source, "the risks arising from exposure to noise shall be eliminated at their source or reduced to a minimum".
The directive foresees exposure limit values of 87 dB(A) and 112Pa, which determine when preventive measures are necessary to reduce the risks to workers.
