Workplace Health Campaign - Noise, vibrations and hazardous emissions

Topics: Workplace Health

Machinery manufacturers are being urged to reduce noise, vibrations and emissions of hazardous material and substances as part of HSENI’s Workplace Health Campaign.

Introduction

These hazards are particularly relevant to manufacturers - especially those in high-risk sectors such as crushing and screening industries - who must ensure machinery is designed and built to minimise risks at source.

The campaign aims to raise awareness of long-term ill health caused by workplace exposures including musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) occupational lung diseases and cancers.

As part of the campaign HSENI is drawing attention to several risks outlined in the Essential Health and Safety Requirements (EHSR Annex 1, Section 1.5) in the Machinery Directive (2006/42/EC), focusing on three hazards that present significant risks if not effectively controlled:

noise
vibrations
hazardous materials and substances

Noise (EHSR 1.5.8)

Whilst the Machinery Directive does not set noise emission limits; these are dictated within the workplace as per Directive 2003/10/EC. However, the Machinery Directive does require manufacturers to reduce noise emission from machinery to the lowest possible level whilst the machine is in use.

The requirements also take into consideration both the design and construction stages of machinery. Guidance is provided which utilises different methods to control noise through integration of safety features to the machine itself or even to surrounding areas the machine is situated in.

The section is structured to ensure reduction of noise emission as early as possible in the process to ensure risk level is at a minimum to workers.

Vibrations (EHSR 1.5.9)

This section helps protect workers from harmful vibrations. It requires manufacturers to state the vibration levels of their machines in the user manuals.

If hand-arm vibration is above 2.5 m/s², or whole-body vibration is above 0.5 m/s², this must be clearly indicated, and if they are lower that must also be mentioned.

This ensures greater transparency, safer machinery use, and improved protection for worker’s health.

Emissions of hazardous materials and substances (1.5.13)

Machine guards are employed to prevent workers from accessing hazardous areas of machinery during its intended process and to protect against ejected parts. However, depending on the nature of the machine and the industrial setting, hazardous substances can also be emitted during the working process.

Hazardous substances are defined as any chemical or biological agent that is hazardous to health, including those classified as toxic, corrosive or carcinogenic to name a few. Exposure can occur via a range of pathways including but not limited to ingestion, contact with skin and inhalation.

The requirements set out in section 1.5.13 aim to prevent these emissions through a range of approaches. When this is not possible, emissions will be limited and controlled whilst still ensuring workplace health and safety.

Conclusion

Noise, vibration and hazardous substance emissions are just three of 16 “other hazards” within the Machinery Directive. However, they are central to HSENI’s Workplace Health Campaign because of their potential to cause long-term, preventable ill health.

By following the Directive and making use of the relevant harmonised standards, manufacturers can significantly reduce these risks. Good design, informed risk assessment and compliance standards all help ensure machinery is safe throughout its lifecycle.

Although a new Machinery Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 is now in force with a transition period until 20 January 2027, the requirements relating to these hazards remain unchanged. Manufacturers should continue to apply the same standards of risk management.

With the right awareness and preventative measures, workplace ill health can be reduced or avoided entirely.