§ Mr. FlanneryTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to issue a Health and Safety Commission approved code of practice to accompany the 1989 Noise at Work Regulations; and when is the likely date of publication.
§ Mr. NichollsThe Health and Safety Commission has no plans at present to issue an approved code of practice (ACoP) to accompany these regulations. In its consultation document on proposals to implement directive 86/188/EEC the Commission sought views on whether an ACoP should be produced: the majority of respondents thought that guidance alone would be preferable in this case because it facilitated provision of advice on technical issues in a single series of documents which could readily be amended in the light of technical progress.
The Health and Safety Executive has prepared general guidance for employers, machine makers and suppliers which was published on 16 November. Further guidance will be produced shortly.