1. Noise What you should know BWF Health & Safety Hero Campaign
Key Presenter’s Script plus background points to be used
if required
2 Directions i.e. Presenter to refer to individual Slide Points
Slide 1
This presentation, prepared by the BWF, is designed to be used by its member
companies to enable our employees to obtain a better understanding of the
problems associated with manual handling, our legal requirements and
possible solutions to problems we encounter. The Presentation does not
attempt to provide an absolute solution to our problems but does offer a
means to make us think about what we do and how we can do
it more safely
Presenter to encourage audience participation.
Employees should be told that they are recognised as one of the
most valuable sources of information on hazards and health and
safety issues associated with their work activities.
BWF Health & Safety Hero Campaign

2. Noise - What are the Campaign Objectives
Campaign objectives will seek to highlight critical areas that require attention
Will provide guidance as to effectively deal with these
Highlight practical measures to be taken to control noise in the workshop
Slide 2
Introduce the Presentation Headings which aim to cover the main
aspects of this important topic.
Refer to Slide Points
Manual Handling injuries are the largest single kind of reported
injury in the woodworking industry. There has been a steady
rise in the number of such injuries over the last decade and in
many cases, they can be reduced or eliminated with positive
thought and good practice.
There may be other issues that arise during the Presentation.
Offer to cover these either as they arise or at a ‘round-up’ session
at the end.

3. Is Noise a problem for the Woodworking Industry ?
Some of the noisiest working environments are found in the woodworking sector
Excessive noise can cause progressive and generally irreversible loss of hearing, this is known as noise induced hearing loss
Many woodworking machines and their processes give risk to noise levels above the legal limits
As an employer you have a duty to reduce the noise and protect all workers.
Slide 3
Refer to Slide Points then ask the question.
Then Click for answer.
Report that statistics relating to this and most other areas of
woodworking accidents are scarce. (The BWF is currently seeking
to obtain better data).
Report, however, that manual handling injuries within are the most
common type of occupational ill health in Great Britain currently
affecting 1.1. Million people a year.

4. Understanding action values
People working in most woodworking shops are likely to have a noise exposure that exceeds the upper exposure action value of 85 dB. This means that you must put noise controls in place.
Particularly noisy machines include:
Vertical spindle moulders [around 100dB]
Thicknessers [around 104dB]
Multi-cutter moulders [around 105 dB]
Note: as decibels (dB) work on a logarithmic scale a 3 dB increase will double the noise level.

5. Noise levels Measurement example
Slide 4.
What is manual handling and why does it cause a problem?
We first need to understand what manual handling covers.
Refer to Slide Points then add
Surely, the logical solution to the problem would be to remove
manual handling from all work activity.
Obviously, this is impractical so we need to look further into
the various problems associated with and caused by incorrect
handling.
Do you need to move the object at all?
If introducing mechanisation or automation, do we create a new
hazard?

6. What are the legal duties?
Noise is covered by The Control of Noise At Work Regulations.
Employers are required to carry out an assessment of the noise levels in the working area and identify any high risk areas, where employees are likely to be exposed to noise levels high enough to cause hearing damage.
If you cannot eliminate noise, you must reduce it as low as possible at source.
There are noise exposure limits that must not be exceeded. These are
the first action level is 80 dB,
the second action level is 85dB,
Slide 5
Manual handling injuries – these do not just cover the obvious
‘back problems’. They cover a wider variety of injuries.
Refer to Slide Points then add
A few further points to note - there are twice as many laceration
injuries during manual handling operations in woodworking
as there are in industry generally. This is probably because of
the frequent necessity to handle sharp cutter blocks and saw
blades during tool changing. Handling roughly sawn timber
also leads to cuts and splinters.
Move on to next slide – 6

7. Assessments - What does this involve?
An assessment should be carried out on your work place operations, to establish what the current noise levels are.
This will then determine what action has to be taken to either reduce or control the noise levels.
 In the case of noise, any assessment should be carried out by a competent person who will need to have an understanding of how noise affects people and how to decide upon the most appropriate control measures
Slide 6
This Slide illustrates in basic terms what the spine is and what can
happen.
Refer to Slide Points
You may wish to amplify this by referring to the following:
‘Other’ associated problems –
Slipped (or prolapsed) disc involves the disc becoming
trapped or pinched between the vertebrae
soft tissue injuries (torn muscles, etc.)
trapped nerves (sciatica)
It must not be forgotten that one injury may lead to other conditions
– trapped nerve in the neck affects posture and movement that in turn
can lead to muscle strain in the back.

8. Reducing noise as low as possible at source . What would you suggest?
Consider the positioning of sources of noise such as machines, the extraction unit, radios etc.
Provide enclosures around noisy machines.
Ensure machines and the extraction is well maintained.
Change to quieter tooling

9. What do I need to tell my employees?
Where they are exposed to high levels of noise, you should at least tell them:
The likely noise exposure and the risk to hearing this noise creates;
What you are doing to control noise and exposures;
Where and how people can obtain hearing protection and how to correctly use and store it;
How to report defects in hearing protection and noise-control equipment;
Any health surveillance you put in place.
Slide 7
 We will now move on to cover the legal requirements.
Refer to Slide Points
As far as providing Information & Training is concerned, there is a
legal requirement to consult employees on all health & safety matters
– this includes manual handling where relevant.

10. Hearing Protection. What does this involve?
Hearing protection should only be provided as a last resort. You must reduce the noise level before you choose to use hearing protection as the only control measure
Generally both ear plugs and ear defenders provide adequate hearing protection
the type of hearing protection provided must be comfortable to wear, suitable for the job and compatible with any other personal protection worn
Employees’ preferences as to the type of hearing protection that they prefer to wear should be taken into account
Slide 8
Employees have duties under the Regulations too.
Refer to Slide Points

11. Health Surveillance. What does this involve?
You must provide health surveillance (hearing checks) for all your employees who are likely to be regularly exposed above the upper exposure action values, or are at risk for any reason, e.g. they already suffer from hearing loss or are particularly sensitive to damage
Slide 9
As an Employer we have a duty to “avoid the need for potentially
hazardous manual handling as far as reasonably practicable”
Refer to Slide Points
These measures may not always be possible or appropriate, but
we need to consider them. For example lift trucks can be useful,
but they must be suitable to the work activity and have properly
trained operators.

12. Summary Assess the risks to your employees from noise at work
Take action to reduce the noise exposure that produces those risks
Provide your employees with hearing protection if you cannot reduce the noise exposure enough by using other methods
Make sure the legal limits on noise exposure are not exceeded
Provide your employees with information, instruction and training
Carry out health surveillance where there is a risk to health. 26
In summing up, Presenter should Refer to Slide Points and where
appropriate add relevant information on their company’s policy
in respect of manual handling.
Invite questions and discussion if appropriate and refer to the wealth
of guidance produced by HSE and others on this topic.
[SEE NEXT SLIDE FOR LIST OF PUBLICATIONS]
Note: brief list attached.
-end-

13. Sources of Information
The Control of Noise At Work Regulations 2005
BWF Guide to Health & Safety in the Woodworking Industry
BWF Publications
HSE Web site – 27

14. Finally