§ Baroness Byfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
Which businesses, by category, besides farming and forestry, would be affected by the proposed physical agents directive. [HL964]
§ Lord Falconer of ThorotonBoth the proposed physical agents directives on vibration and noise will affect most sectors of industry besides farming and forestry, in particular construction, manufacturing, mining and quarrying, transport and distribution, shipbuilding, motor vehicle manufacture and repair, public utilities, foundries and entertainment.
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§ Lord Glentoranasked Her Majesty's Government:
What are the likely financial implications for the agriculture, quarrying and road haulage industries of the proposed physical agents directive. [HL993]
§ Lord Falconer of ThorotonThe Government have not costed the implications to individual industry sectors of either of the two proposed physical agents directives on vibration and noise. Regulatory impact assessments of the common position reached on both directives covering the costs to industry as a whole and the health benefits to workers have been prepared by the Health and Safety Executive. That on the vibration directive has already been submitted to the Select Committee on the European Union and has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. That on the noise directive is about to be submitted and will be placed in the Libraries when available.
§ Lord Glentoranasked Her Majesty's Government:
What will be the likely implications for national and local government of the proposed physical agents directive. [HL994]
§ Lord Falconer of ThorotonIt is unlikely that the two proposed physical agents directives on vibration and noise will have significant implications for most areas of national and local government, where there is limited use of powered hand tools and industrial vehicles and work in noisy environments. It will, however, be the function of the Health and Safety Executive and local authority inspectors to enforce the resulting domestic legislation.
§ Lord Glentoranasked Her Majesty's Government:
What will be the likely implications for the utilities industries of the proposed physical agents directive. [HL995]
§ Lord Falconer of ThorotonThere is widespread use in the utilities industries of powered hand tools and it is therefore likely there will be significant implications for those industries from the proposed Physical Agents (Vibration) Directive and, to some extent, from the Physical Agents (Noise) Directive. The industries will need to ensure that exposure is controlled in accordance with the levels and actions set out in the directives and that other required measures, such as appropriate health surveillance, are undertaken.
§ Lord Glentoranasked Her Majesty's Government:
What consultations have taken place with business likely to be affected by the proposed physical agents directive. [HL997]
§ Lord Falconer of ThorotonThe Health and Safety Executive has consulted widely with business on both physical agents directives on vibration and noise, including with both the CBI and the TUC. The HSE has also had discussions with several industry associations and has responded to a large number of inquiries from individual businesses.