Posted By Mr Tony Fowler Our hospital fire alarms are necessarily loud and adjusted to achieve the balance between being effective and not deafening people. They are tested every week and sound in close proximity to people at 8.30am. In general I suppose this is something we just have to put up with. However, we have a member of staff who's normal place of work is right next to an alarm and who suffers from Tinnitus, which is aggrevated by the noise. I've suggested he adjusts his working day by 15 - 20 minutes on a Tuesday or wears ear protection. Any thoughts?

Posted By Mr Tony Fowler Thanks Jim. I don't know much about deafness at all, so here's a daft question for you. Even though you are totally deaf does noise affect your tinnitus?

Posted By Mr Tony Fowler Thanks again Jim

Posted By Craig Godwin Tony, I suggest you look at the Safety Signs and Signals Regs. for further guidance on this. Schedule 1, part 1 says "If the hearing ....of the workers concerned is impaired, including impairment by the use of personal protective equipment, measures must be taken to supplement or replace the signs concerned". Part VII goes on to say that that acoustic signals must have a sound level which is considerably higher than the level of ambient noise, so that it is audible without being excessive or painful. The guidance section suggests "considerably higher" to be 10dB above ambient noise levels. You might also look at Reg. 4, it's guidance, and Schedule 1 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regs. 1999. Hope this helps. Craig Godwin