Health & safety file

Exposure to noise
The HSE has published research into the prevalence of hearing difficulties and tinnitus in working-aged people, which estimates the risks from occupational exposure to noise and the number of attributable cases nationally.

Occupational exposure to noise and hearing difficulty in Britain is based on a national postal survey, sent to 22,194 randomly selected working age adults.The report estimates that some 153,000 men and 26,000 women within the 35-65 age group have severe hearing difficulties attributable to noise at work, and that 266,000 men and 84,000 women within this age bracket have attributable persistent tinnitus.
HSE Books, ISBN 0 7176 2087 5

Welfare facilities
The HSE has published Welfare facilities at transient railway-infrastructure maintenance and renewal sites, an information sheet aimed at employers, contractors, subcontractors, the self-employed and those who control maintenance and renewals work on the railway infrastructure. It provides guidance on the supply of adequate and appropriate welfare facilities at railway work sites, which must be provided for employees. It defines 'welfare' as sufficient washing, toilet, rest and changing facilities for people while they are at work. The provision of these facilities must be considered at the planning stage of any work to be carried out on the railway infrastructure, access to which must be via a safe route.
HSE Books, RAIS1(rev1)

Decent homes
The Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions has published a report, Decent Home — definition and guidance to help local authorities and registered social landlords quantify the level of non-decent stock in their area.
Email: h_r_summaries@dtlr.gov.uk

Construction safety
The Health and Safety Commission (HSC) says reducing fatalities and injuries in the construction industry is one of its main priorities. The commission's chief inspector of construction will be taking on the role of chair of the HSC's Construction Industry Advisory Committee.

The committee will co-ordinate all the HSE's activities dedicated to improving health and safety in the construction industry, establishing the strategic direction of the construction priority programme, and overseeing the comprehensive change of culture required by the industry to secure health and safety targets.
HSE: 0870 1545500