Workers to be better protected against noise

The Occupational Health and Safety Authority has launched a consultation process on a set of draft regulations that it says will better protect workers from noise-related health risks. Regulations have been in place since 2004 but these will be replaced by new legislation providing better protection specifically through lower noise thresholds, the OHSA said.

The draft legislation carries detailed rights and obligations including health surveillance, personal hearing protectors, monitoring as well as eliminating or reducing noise at source. The minimum requirements apply fully to all activities where workers are exposed to the risks of noise as a result of their work.

The regulations will enter into force in February 2006, except in the case of personnel on board sea-going vessels, where certain provisions come into force in February 2011.

In the case of personnel working in the music and entertainment sectors, these regulations will come into force in February 2008.

The authority said that for the purpose of these regulations, noise refers to "any sound which is present at the place of work and includes sound energy of any frequency, whether or not capable of being perceived by the unaided human ear".

When the regulations come into force, employers will have to carry out a risk assessment and if necessary measure the levels of noise to which workers are exposed at regular intervals.

The legislation also obliges employers to take all measures to eliminate or reduce exposure from noise to a minimum, taking account of technical progress and of the availability of measures to control the risk, provide information and training for the workers and provide appropriate health surveillance by a doctor or competent person for workers where the risk assessment reveals a risk to their health.

All relevant documents to the consultation process are available from the OHSA website www.ohsa.org.mt under the heading Consultation Documents.

Those requiring further information may contact the OHSA on 2124 7677/8 or ohsa.communications@gov.mt. The deadline for submissions is November 30.