Welcome Guest! The IOSH forums are a free resource to both members and non-members. Login or register to use them

Postings made by forum users are personal opinions. IOSH is not responsible for the content or accuracy of any of the information contained in forum postings. Please carefully consider any advice you receive.

Notification

Icon
Error

Options
Go to last post Go to first unread
kojo  
#1 Posted : 07 July 2011 20:41:05(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
kojo

Dear All

Please does any think pregnant woman working in a noisy environment have ant effect on their unborn baby

Your experiences will greatly help.
Ron Hunter  
#2 Posted : 07 July 2011 22:02:00(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Ron Hunter

Yes, but indirectly. Noise as a stressor can upset blood chemistry.
cliveg  
#3 Posted : 07 July 2011 22:06:44(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
cliveg

Hello

Yes Ron is right, excessive noise can lead to increased tiredness and to raised blood pressure.
Ron Hunter  
#4 Posted : 08 July 2011 00:19:49(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Ron Hunter

And living (as opposed to working) in a noisy environment can have exactly the same effect. This is entirely dependent on the tolerance and attitudes of the mother though. Some of us can carry on oblivious to that which irks and stresses others.
Jane Blunt  
#5 Posted : 08 July 2011 08:14:36(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Jane Blunt

Have a look at this article:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17974451

I am aware that the environment of the baby before it is born is not quite. They are bathed in a lot of white noise and the general background of the mother's circulation and digestive system. They do react quite strongly to sudden noises from outside, by being startled and jumping. This is the only paper that I can find about industrial type noise and a direct effect on the baby in utero.
teh_boy  
#6 Posted : 08 July 2011 08:48:00(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
teh_boy

I did some research on this, like lots of other things opinions are mixed... However - in the UK the HSE provide some very clear (but odd guidance)

They basically say there is no risk, but you must remove a mother from noise.

http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/priced/hsg122.pdf

Quote:

Noise


WHAT IS THE RISK.
There appears to be no specific risk to new or expectant mothers, but prolonged exposure to loud noise may lead to increased blood pressure and tiredness.
No particular problems for women who have recently given birth or who are breastfeeding.
HOW TO AVOID THE RISK
The requirements of the Noise at Work Regulations 1989 should be sufficient to meet the needs of new or expectant mothers
You must ensure that workers who are pregnant, who have recently given birth or who are breastfeeding are not exposed to noise levels exceeding the national exposure limit value.
OTHER GUIDANCE.
Noise at Work Regulations 1989 apply to all workers exposed to loud noise where . there is a risk to hearing.



so basically DO NOT expose pregnant women to noise above the action values (i've always used 80 db(A) to be safe)

Having recently experienced miscarriage, and a very poor effort by the NHS to apply the HSE guidance it really isn't worth risking it.
Ron Hunter  
#7 Posted : 08 July 2011 11:58:43(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Ron Hunter

HSG122 is IMHO a very poor document in need of urgent review.
Guru  
#8 Posted : 08 July 2011 12:09:36(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Guru

May I ask what levels of noise we are talking about?
kojo  
#9 Posted : 08 July 2011 21:33:43(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
kojo

Dear All,

Thanks for your comment, the expectant mother only goes to certain part of the noisy areas to do her checks and return to area with no noise.

I am not sure whether this still some to her

Guru  
#10 Posted : 08 July 2011 22:05:35(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Guru

It would be quite easy to determine what noise exposure she is experiencing by carrying out a personal noise assessment using a personal dosemeter over her working day?
Users browsing this topic
Guest (2)
You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.