NOISE OF EQUIPMENT USED OUTDOORS

Working to the start date of July 2001 for Directive 2000/14/EC, the Commission guidelines issuing from its WG7 working group have been under scrutiny. A lengthy first draft has been considered by the CEA, who put forward comments in January, and by other interested parties. The next draft will show if we have been successful in getting our views across.

Meanwhile in the UK, nine notified body applicants are being assessed by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS). The DTI is seeking comments on its draft Regulations which must be in place by July 2001.

MORE NOISE !

A new proposal for a Physical Agents (Noise) Directive has been tabled by the Swedish Presidency. The proposal seeks to reduce the risks of hearing damage to people in workplaces by setting noise exposure action and limit values at 80 dB and 85 dB respectively. The proposal would replace Directive 86/188/EEC and would require a change to the Noise at Work Regulations which have been operating since 1989.

The CEA does not see a need for this proposal which has arrived in advance of the promised review of Directive 86/188/EC and is consulting CEA members and the HSE to decide a line to take.

VISIBILITY

A successful meeting between the CEA and the HSE to resolve the issue of enhanced operator visibility on excavators, loaders and dumpers was held in January. The CEA view to assess what is needed before the HSE launches into action was substantially successful.

Seven members of the CEA will measure visibility criteria on a total of 13 of their products. They will submit the results to an ISO working group which is seeking to update the visibility standard ISO 5006. This standard, together with ISO 14401, will set requirements for visibility on mobile construction equipment, including details of what devices should be fitted to achieve acceptable visibility safety levels.

ENGINE EMISSIONS

The Stage III Joint Engine Industry Proposal (JEIP) to amend Directive 97/68/EC, was presented to the Commission and Member States in December. Some Member States wanted after-treatment to be included while others, including the UK, did not think it was appropriate for Stage III. One outcome of this exchange is that the proposal may have a Stage III and a Stage IV.

STILL VIBRATING

A Council of Ministers reached political agreement on the Physical Agents (Vibration) Directive last November.

The document is now being considered by the Social and Employment Affairs Committee of the European Parliament. It appears that this Committee, led by its rapporteur from Denmark, would like to tighten the requirements by reducing the action and limit values and the transition periods. This would severely restrict the use of equipment in the future.

The CEA is working with the HSE, Orgalime and CECE to ensure that MEPs are made aware of the consequences.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON TECHNICAL MATTERS – CONTACT:

Bill Osborne - CEA Technical Officer bill@admin.co.uk

OR

Tim Faithfull - CEA Director of Member Services tim@admin.co.uk

Tel: +44 (0)20 8665 5727 - Fax: +44 (0)20 8665 6447