Noise Excessive noise is unwanted sound which may damage a person's hearing. Noise at the workplace is a major cause of hearing loss in Queensland. It contributes to social isolation and reduced quality of life, increased absenteeism, worker turnover and lowered work performance. It also contributes to workplace injuries and accidents. In order to understand the workplace health and safety requirements for noise, and your obligations under the law you must consider and understand relevant legislation and codes of practice. What are the effects of excessive noise? Excessive noise is made up of two parts - the period of time you are exposed to the noise and the loudness of the noise. Continuous exposure to noise above 85 decibels during an eight hour day is considered to be excessive noise. (The noise of a heavy truck is about 85 decibels, while a jet taking off is about 120 decibels.) Health risks of noise exposure Exposure to noise in our work environment causes a number of physiological and psychological responses. Noise can have the following effects: annoyance and speech interference interference with concentration and thought processes sleep disturbance fatigue and aggression reduced immune response heart disease The body's automatic nervous system attempts to adjust the body functions by: increasing the heart rate and raising the blood pressure releasing the hormones adrenalin and cortisol
Adrenalin prepares the body's 'fight or flight' reaction and cortisol prepares the body for stress. However, prolonged high levels of adrenalin and cortisol under stressful working conditions may lead to more serious health effects. Some of the main effects are: raised blood pressure acceleration of heart rate stress which can lead to irritability and headaches hypertension increasing the risk of strokes and heart attacks, reduced white blood cell count reduced immune response gastric ulcers These effects can happen with both high and low level noise exposure in the workplace. High level noise may cause initially dull hearing with perhaps ringing in the ear as well. With regular exposures this will lead to loss of hearing as well as health effects. Low level noise experienced as annoying or as interfering with activities or concentration, causes stress and similar health effects as high level noise. Effective noise control measures have a positive effect on people. They increase a sense of well being and privacy which in turn results in a greater acceptance of the work environment. Definitions There are six classes of work under the Electrical Safety Regulation 2002 (PDF, 1 MB), all with different requirements for electrical safety management including testing and inspection of equipment and safety switch protection. The six classes of work are: construction work manufacturing work service work office work amusement work
rural industry work. For amusement, manufacturing and rural industry work 'specified electrical equipment': is equipment that is connected by a flexible cord and plug to low voltage supply; and has a current rating not exceeding 20 Amps. For example, a bench grinder plugged in to a power point. For service and office work, 'specified electrical equipment' is equipment that: is connected by a flexible cord and plug to low voltage supply; has a current rating not exceeding 20 Amps; and is moved during its normal use for the purpose of its use. For example, a handheld blow dryer, portable power saw or vacuum cleaner. 'Specified electrical equipment' also includes extension leads or portable outlet devices (powerboards). Construction work requirements Employers and self-employed people must ensure that all electrical equipment for the performance of work is in accordance with the requirements of AS/NZS 3012 Electrical installations - Construction and demolition sites (non-queensland Government link). An employer or self employed person whose business or undertaking is being conducted at a construction workplace and who is the principal contractor for the construction workplace must ensure that all construction wiring at the workplace is in accordance with AS/NZS 3012. Manufacturing work requirements Employers and self-employed people must make sure: double adaptors and piggyback plugs are not used
specified electrical equipment is inspected, tested and tagged by a competent person at prescribed intervals and specified electrical equipment is connected to a type 1 or 2 safety switch. This must be an installed safety switch from 1 March 2008. From 1 March 2008, portable safety switches will not be an option for manufacturing industry safety switches are tested at prescribed intervals any electrical equipment is immediately withdrawn from use if it is not safe to use safety switches are withdrawn from use if they are not working properly. Service work and office work requirements Employers and self-employed people must make sure: specified electrical equipment is inspected and tested by a competent person at prescribed intervals and immediately withdrawn from use if it is not safe to use or specified electrical equipment is connected to a type 1 or 2 safety switch. The safety switch must be tested at prescribed intervals and withdrawn from use if it is not working properly Electrical safety at work Electricity can kill if you give it the chance. This page gives a quick reference for employers and self-employed people to carry out their obligations under the legislation. Although it covers the main points for most types of workplace, it is not a complete list. Even if you survive an electric shock, there can be serious side effects. These can include: burns eye damage
partial loss of limb function neurological disorders such as confusion and memory loss injuries caused after the shock (e.g. falling from a ladder or contact with moving machinery). The Electrical Safety Regulation 2002 (PDF, 1 MB) sets out specific requirements about electrical equipment and installations at a workplace. The regulation covers some of the things that you must do as a minimum. These requirements include: protecting extension leads and flexible cables (PDF, 335 KB) from damage using safety switches in certain situations inspecting, testing and tagging certain electrical equipment on a regular basis removing defective equipment from service removing safety switches from service if they are not working properly not using double adaptors and piggyback plugs to do certain work Extension cords must be regularly tested and tagged. Employers and self-employed people must also ensure electrical equipment is maintained in a safe condition as part of fulfilling their obligations under the Electrical Safety Act 2002 (PDF, 788 KB). How does the regulation apply to you regarding extension cords and flexible leads? All employers and self-employed people must locate and protect extension leads and flexible cables so they are not damaged by anything (including liquid). For example, using a suitable cover to provide protection against crushing or other damage in pedestrian and vehicle traffic areas. Inspecting and testing equipment Specified electrical equipment and safety switches need to be tested at intervals relevant to the class of work they are to be used in. For construction work this information is contained in AS/NZS 3012 Electrical installations - Construction and demolition sites (non-queensland Government link).
For manufacturing, service, office, amusement and rural industry work, the information is contained in the Electrical Safety Regulation 2002 (PDF, 1 MB). A durable tag must be attached to the specified electrical equipment at the completion of inspection and testing, where required, clearly showing the date of test and the scheduled date for reinspection and retesting. Intervals for testing are determined by consulting the Electrical Safety Regulation 2002 and AS/NZS 3760 In-service safety inspection and testing of electrical equipment (non- Queensland Government link) Electrical equipment and tools Who can test electrical equipment? By law only a person deemed competent by their employer can test and tag electrical equipment. It is an offence under the Electrical Safety Act 2002 (PDF, 788 KB) to repair any electrical equipment that you find is faulty, unless you have the appropriate electrical work licence. Competence is based on knowledge and skills gained through training, experience, qualifications or a combination of these. How often to test
How often specified electrical equipment and safety switches are tested depends on the class of workplace they are used in: Category Portable electrical Type 1 or 2 safety Type 1 or 2 safety equipment switch (fixed) switch (portable) Construction work At least 3 monthly intervals by a competent person. Specified electrical equipment button (at least monthly). An operating time/current test by a competent person at least annually. Type 1 or 2 safety switch (fixed) button immediately after it is connected and immediately before it used, first time each day. By a competent person, at least every 3 months. Type 1 or 2 safety switch (portable) Manufacturing If equipment is work double insulated, at button at least button daily or least every 12 every 6 months. before each use, months by competent person. An operating time/current test at whichever is longer. By a competent If not double least every 12 person, at least insulated, at least months by every 12 months. every 6 months by competent person. competent person and connected to a safety switch. Note: From 1 March 2008, portable safety switches are not to be used in
manufacturing work. Installed safety switches must be used. Service work At least 12 monthly intervals by a button, at least button at least every competent person every 6 months. 3 months or before or connected to a safety switch. An operating time/current test by each use, whichever is longer. a competent person, An operating at least every 12 time/current test by months. a competent person, Longer test intervals may apply. Consult at least every 12 months. the Electrical Safety Longer test intervals Regulation 2002 may apply. Consult (PDF, 1 MB) and the Electrical Safety AS/NZS 3760 In- Regulation 2002 service safety (PDF, 1 MB) and inspection and AS/NZS 3760 In- testing of electrical service safety equipment (non- inspection and Queensland testing of electrical Government link) equipment (non- Queensland Government link) Office work At least 5 yearly intervals by a button at least every button at least every competent person 6 months. 3 months. or connected to a An operating An operating
safety switch time/current test by time/current test by a competent person, a competent person at least every 2 at least every 2 years. years. Amusement work If equipment is (specified electrical equipment) double insulated, at least every 12 months by competent person. button at least every 3 months. An operating time/current test at button daily or before each use, whichever is longer. By a competent If not double least every 6 months person, at least insulated, at least 6 by competent every 3 months. months by competent person and connected to a safety switch person. Longer test intervals may apply. Consult the Electrical Safety Longer test intervals may apply. Consult the and AS/NZS 3760 In-service Regulation 2002 safety inspection (PDF, 1 MB) and and testing of AS/NZS 3760 In- electrical equipment service safety (non-queensland inspection and Government link) testing of electrical equipment (non- Queensland Government link) Amusement work Inspected and tested (amusement and devices) rides each after each onsite assembly, and every six
months. Rural work industry Visual examination before each use. (all plug in equipment) Rural industry Either: test and Recommended push Recommended push work inspect every 12 button test every button test every months or protect three months. three months. with a safety switch. (Specified electrical equipment used under stated electrical risk factors) For construction work, refer to AS/NZS 3012 Electrical installations - Construction and demolition sites (non-queensland Government link). For all other work, refer to the Electrical Safety Regulation 2002 (PDF, 1 MB). On completing tests, and on achieving satisfactory results, you must attach a durable tag to the electrical equipment showing when next it is due for an inspection and test. Electrical equipment that fails testing should immediately be withdrawn from use and you must attach a durable tag warning people not to use the equipment.
First aid First aid equipment, personnel and facilities are important resources in assisting workplaces to manage workplace injuries and illnesses. In order to understand the workplace health and safety requirements for first aid, and your obligations under the law you must consider and understand relevant legislation and codes of practice. What law applies Legal obligations, legislation, code of practice What first aid facilities are required? First aid equipment, facilities and people are needed in a workplace to respond to illness or injury, including the risk of exposure to biological hazards, blood and bloody substances Infection control First aid personnel and workers may be at risk of exposure to infectious diseases or biological hazards Personal protective equipment (PPE) Personal protective equipment should be provided to protect first aid personnel and ill or injured persons from risks of exposure to infections Skin penetration injuries (SPI) Procedures should be in place for the management of skin penetrating injuries and other blood or body substance exposure
Information and training Information and training should be provided to first aid personnel Record keeping A first aid recording system should be maintained at the workplace For more information, refer to the following web site: http://www.deir.qld