Nursery World - Keep noise down, Europe tells nurseries

Nurseries and early years settings will have to carry out 'noise risk assessments' to ensure they are not damaging the hearing of their staff, Europe's health and safety agency said last week. From February next year all employers will need to set a noise limit of 87 decibels in the workplace under a tightening up of regulations under the new European Noise Directive. This replaces and strengthens existing regulations from 1986, setting minimum requirements to protect workers from noise exposure. Employers must carry out an assessment in workplaces where noise is a potential hazard.

From February next year all employers will need to set a noise limit of 87 decibels in the workplace under a tightening up of regulations under the new European Noise Directive. This replaces and strengthens existing regulations from 1986, setting minimum requirements to protect workers from noise exposure. Employers must carry out an assessment in workplaces where noise is a potential hazard.

Vladimir Spidla, European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, said, 'Noise goes beyond hearing problems. It can cause accidents at work and increase stress levels. It is a growing concern all over Europe, in workplaces from factories and farms to schools and call centres.'

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