The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has launched a new campaign urging employers to take action on workplace noise and vibration before workers develop permanent, life-changing health conditions.

Around 15,000 workers develop hearing problems caused or made worse by work every year, while an estimated one in five workers is exposed to harmful noise levels. Yet the effects of exposure can go unnoticed until symptoms appear, when some damage may already be irreversible.

For health and safety professionals, the campaign is a reminder that identifying risks early and putting effective controls in place is essential to protecting workers.

The lasting effects of noise and vibration

Noise and vibration are common hazards across industries including construction, manufacturing, agriculture, engineering, utilities and maintenance. Exposure can come from everyday tools, machinery and equipment, making it important for employers to understand the risks associated with routine tasks.

Prolonged or excessive workplace noise can cause permanent hearing loss and tinnitus, which can affect concentration, sleep and everyday conversations.

Hand-arm vibration can lead to Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) and carpal tunnel syndrome. Symptoms can include numbness, tingling, pain and reduced grip strength, making everyday activities and work tasks more difficult.

These conditions can have a lasting impact on workers' lives, reinforcing the need to prevent harm before symptoms develop.

Assess, Control, Protect

HSE's new campaign promotes a straightforward three-step approach to help employers manage noise and vibration risks: Assess, Control, Protect.

Assess means identifying workers who may be exposed, understanding the level of risk and carrying out suitable risk assessments.

Control involves reducing exposure at source. This could include choosing quieter or lower-vibration equipment, maintaining machinery, introducing engineering controls and adopting safer working methods.

Protect means providing suitable hearing protection where necessary, arranging health surveillance where required and ensuring workers receive the information, instruction and training they need.

Employers have legal duties to assess and control workplace noise and vibration risks under the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 and the Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005.

Prevention must come before symptoms

A key message from HSE's campaign is that employers should not wait for workers to report hearing problems, pain or numbness before reviewing their approach.

By the time symptoms become noticeable, some damage may already be permanent. Regular risk assessments, effective controls and appropriate health surveillance can help organisations identify problems and reduce exposure before workers' health is affected.

The campaign also builds on HSE's wider work to reduce vibration-related ill health, including the HAVS Risk Reduction Pledge, which encourages organisations to commit to effective risk management, worker involvement and long-term prevention.

Turning awareness into action

Noise and vibration risks can easily become part of the everyday working environment, particularly when exposure comes from equipment used regularly. However, familiarity should not lead to complacency.

Health and safety teams can use HSE's campaign as an opportunity to review existing assessments, check whether controls are effective and ensure workers understand how to protect themselves.

As HSE highlights, noise and vibration-related ill health is preventable, but its consequences can last a lifetime. Taking action early can help protect workers' health, prevent avoidable harm and support safer working environments.

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