Posted By Karen Wilson
Hi Stephen - If the lads are working in an environment where ear plugs are required to be worn (my understanding from your post) - then the "noise" contribution from their ipods is in addition to the existing "workplace noise". This increases still further the risk of noise-induced hearing loss.

If as a company you give permission for this to continue, would the company be prepared to accept liability for work-related noise-induced hearing loss in these individuals, under the circumstances described? [More to the point how would your insurance company view this?]

Note also, that ear defenders worn on top of the ipod ear piece, serves to protect against workplace noise - but serves no protection from noise generated from the ipod earpiece.
Would the fire alarm etc still be audible?

It may be prudent to get some audiometric readings of your staff as a baseline. You will receive detail of their current level of hearing and the occupational health team will be able to recommend frequency of re-test - and what the risks are to the individuals of future hearing loss from their current work-activity and methods of work.

Gone off at a bit of a tangent here Stephen.

For my our own clients:-

The advice given to our clients, is to ban the use of personal music systems, (whether factory or construction environment)and to only allow radios where there is low background workplace noise. Consultation with Employees and their representatives with respect to workplace noise has resulted in the installation of company owned radios (PAT tested of course) - in areas with low background noise levels, and with restrictors fitted to the volume control buttons.

Music over the tannoy system does not take place within the industrial setting. Supervisors manage the use of the radios - and because of the initial employee consultation process - all seems to have worked out well.

Another thought.....(dangerous to think at this time of night!!) - there are also ear defenders on the market with inbuilt radios (suitably restricted) - which would allow the lads to tune into musics stations of their choice. i.e. Personal Protective Equipment - over which the employer has control of noise exposure levels.

[Incidentally - my Ipod also has restrictors - but the maximum allowed is far too loud for my own comfort - and I cannot hear what others are saying to me at such a level. I turn it down quite significantly.]

No idea if any of this is any help Stephen.
Consultation with employees on health and safety matters, with information, instruction and training on Noise at Work, and the effects of noise-induced hearing loss.

I would be interested to know the outcome of this one.

Karen

Posted By Martin Taylor
I agree entirely with the earlier post and ban the use of iPods on the shop floor for all the reasons outlined. They do not help in noisy areas and restrict the ability to hear warning signs and signals.

It may be that the work area of these 2 is not noisy and they are not exposed to forklifts etc but if you allow this how can you guarantee that they do not move to other areas with the iPods on.

How do you guarantee that other colleagues in different areas (inappropriate for iPods don't copy?)

I'm afraid it's another case of being the nasty safety manager for the better good of everybody.

All the discussion on radios and piped music apply as well

Martin

Posted By mike morland
Ah, I remember the good old days before the i-pod when personalised sterios where all the rage. We banned them years ago in our factory for obvious safety reasons.

In terms of NIHL the employer is responsible to reduce noise at source where possible. Tends to defeat the objective when noise is deliberately introduced to the ears.

Secondly, you have no guarantees that the listener wont turn up the volume to drown out all other noise to the point where warning sirens, bleepers or fire alarms cannot be heard.

Wouldn't want to spoil anyone's fun but unfortunately as H&S professionals we sometimes don't really have a choice?