Transcript 'Europe against Cancer' Programme

Antenna for Improvement of the working Environment
NOISE DIRECTIVE
(2003/10/EC)
Eleni Dapergola/ DG EMPL/D
Bucharest, 20 and 21 October 2005
European Commission – Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities
Antenna for Improvement of the working Environment
Article 137 of the Treaty
- Carcinogens
- Biological Agents
- Chemical Agents
-Physical Agents:
-
-
Workplaces
Work Equipment, Scaffolding
Personal Protective Equipment
Display Screen Equipment
Safety Signs
- Noise
- Vibration
- EMF
- Optical Radiation
- Construction Sites
- Mineral-extracting
Industries
- Drilling in Mineralextracting Industries
- Fishing Vessels
- Asbestos
Framework Directive
89/391/EEC

- Explosive
Atmospheres
to encourage improvements in health and safety at work
Antenna for Improvement of the working Environment
Background

Discussions started at Council level in 1999
during German Presidency. Initial proposal was
split in four directives.
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Two first directives “Vibrations” and “Noise” were
adopted by the E.P. and the Council in 2002 and
2003.
Antenna for Improvement of the working Environment
Major work-related health issue

Reduces / eliminates easy
communication
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Verbal warnings/instructions
more difficult to hear
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Increases stress levels
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Significant risk to construction
workers
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Usually found where vibration is
also an issue
Antenna for Improvement of the working Environment
Extreme risk.
Vibration sources also often noise sources
Sector:
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Agriculture
Construction
Manufacturing
Education
Textiles
Transport
Health care
Activity:
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Pig feeding
Scabbling - Road laying
Diamond drills and saws
Nurseries
Sewing shop
Trucks
Removing a (plaster) cast
Antenna for Improvement of the working Environment
Legal structure
Similar legal structure to other EU H&S directives
• General provisions
• Obligations of employers
• Miscellaneous provisions
• Final provisions
• Annex
Antenna for Improvement of the working Environment
General provisions
Aim and Scope
lays down minimum requirements for the protection of
workers from risks to their health and safety arising or
likely to arise from exposure to noise
NOTE:


Framework Directive 89/391/EEC fully applies
The new Directive applies to all workers including those
engaged in sea transport and in air transport
Antenna for Improvement of the working Environment
General provisions
Definitions
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peak sound pressure: maximum value of instantaneous
noise pressure
daily noise exposure level: time-weighted average of the
noise exposure levels for a nominal eight-hour working
day
weekly noise exposure level: time-weighted average of
the daily noise exposure levels for a nominal week of
five eight-hour working days
Antenna for Improvement of the working Environment
General provisions
Directive 2003
Directive 1986
Lower
exposure
action value
80 dB (A)
(112 Pa of peak sound
pressure)
80 dB (A)
(135 Pa of peak
sound pressure)
Upper
exposure
action value
85 dB (A)
(140 Pa of peak sound
pressure)
90 dB (A)
(112 Pa of peak
sound pressure)
Exposure limit
87 dB (A)
value
(200 Pa of peak sound
pressure)
Noneexistent
Antenna for Improvement of the working Environment
General provisions
Main changes in relation to the 1986 Noise Directive:
A new "exposure limit value" – must not be exceeded
The exposure limit values take into account the attenuation provided
by the individual hearing protectors worn by the worker; this does not
apply in the case of the exposure action values
Antenna for Improvement of the working Environment
Obligations of employers
Risk assessment at suitable intervals, including measurements of
level of noise by competent services and recorded
On the basis of the risk assessment the employer shall identify
which measures must be taken
Antenna for Improvement of the working Environment
Obligations of employers
Risks arising from exposure to noise must be eliminated at their
source or reduced to a minimum
The reduction of such risks must be based on the general principles of
prevention set out in the Framework Directive
Workplaces where workers are likely to be exposed to noise
exceeding the upper exposure action values must be marked with
signs; if the upper exposure action values are exceeded, the employer
must establish and implement a programme of technical and/or
organisational measures intended to reduce the exposure to noise
Antenna for Improvement of the working Environment
Obligations of employers
If the risks arising from exposure
to noise cannot be prevented by
other means, individual hearing
protectors must be made
available to workers.
The employer must ensure the
wearing of hearing protectors
and shall be responsible for
checking the effectiveness of
these measures.
Antenna for Improvement of the working Environment
Obligations of employers
The employer must ensure that workers who are exposed
to noise at or above the lower exposure action values (80
dB (A)) receive information and training relating to risks
resulting from exposure to noise
In accordance with Directive 89/391/EEC Consultation
and participation, information and training of workers shall
take place as well as health surveillance (early diagnosis
of hearing impairment)
Antenna for Improvement of the working Environment
Step by step dealing with noise
Deal with it by management
Remove or reduce the need to carry out
the noisy process
Have a "no noise or no noise" purchasing
policy so that noise outputs are
considered when buying work equipment
Deal with it at source
Go through the work equipment to find
the actual source(s) of noise and address
these
Deal with it collectively
Take steps to protect all in the workplace,
e.g. by by putting in acoustic insulatio,
changing the work organisation
Deal with it at an individual
level
Providing personal protective equipment
where required (e.g. ear plugs)
Always assess the risks first, and consult with the workers!
Antenna for Improvement of the working Environment
Miscellaneous provisions
Derogations
Where the use of individual hearing protectors would be
likely to cause greater risk to health or safety than not
using such protectors, Member States may, under certain
conditions, grant derogations from the directive
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Miscellaneous provisions
Repeal
The Directive 86/188/EEC is repealed with effect from 15
February 2006
Antenna for Improvement of the working Environment
Main differences between directive 1986 and
the new directive
Provision
Directive 1986
Directive 2003
Reduce risk
To lowest level reasonably
practicable (Art. 5)
Eliminated at source or
Assessment period
8 hours (Art. 4)
8 hours or one week (Art. 3(3)
Provide information
and training to
workers and reps
85 dB (A) and 200 Pa (Art.4)
80dB (A) and 112 Pa (Art. 8)
Workers right to
hearing checks /
audiometric testing
85 dB (A) by or under the
responsibility of a doctor
(Art.7)
85 dB (A) by or under the
responsibility of a doctor (Art.
10 (2)) (above) / To be
available at 80 dB (A) and 112
Pa (Art.10 (2)) where risk
indicated
reduced to a minimum (Art. 5)
Antenna for Improvement of the working Environment
Main differences between directive 1986 and
the new directive (continuation)
Provision
Health
surveillance
Directive 1986
-
Directive 2003
Provisions must be adopted to
ensure appropriate health
surveillance where risk indicated
(Art.6 (1))
Make hearing
protection
available
85 dB (A) and
80dB (A) and 112 Pa (Art.6 (1) (a))
200 Pa (Art. 6 (2))
Hearing
protection to be
worn
90 dB (A) and
200 Pa (Art.6 (2))
Limit on
exposure
-
85 dB (A) and 140 Pa (Art. 6 (1) (b))
87 dB (A) and 200 Pa at the ear
(Art. 7)
Antenna for Improvement of the working Environment
Main differences between directive 1986 and
the new directive (end)
Provision
Directive 1986
Directive 2003
Programme of control
measures
90 dB (A) and 200 Pa (Art. 5
(2)), where reasonable
practicable
85 dB (A) and 140 Pa (Art. 5 (2))
Delimit areas, put up
signs and control
access
where reasonable practicable
90 dB (A) and 200 Pa (Art. 4
(2)),
85 dB (A) and 140 Pa where technically
feasible and the risk of exposure so
justifies (Art.5 (3))
Consultation and
participation of workers
Derogations
Weekly exposure averaging
(Art. 9 (1)); from hearing
protection where health and
safety risk (9 (2))
Transitional period
-
Non-application
Workers in sea and air
transport
In accordance with Directive 89/391/EEC
on matters covered by Noise Directive
(Art. 9).
From hearing protection where health
and safety risk (Art. 11)
5 years from implementation with regard
to personnel on board seagoing vessels;
2 years for music and entertainment
sectors
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Antenna for Improvement of the working Environment
European Commission – Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities
Antenna for Improvement of the working Environment
Noise Directive (2003/10/EC)
Thank you
for
your attention
European Commission – Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities