Question reference: S4W-29111
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for Argyll and Bute, Scottish National Party
- Date lodged: 24 December 2015
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Current status: Answered by Maureen Watt on 13 January 2016
Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-28385 by Maureen Watt on 23 November 2015, whether it is aware of Directive 2002/44/EC - vibration and, if so, what steps the NHS is taking to (a) monitor and (b) report on instances of workforce exposure in the maritime industries to whole-body vibration.
Answer
The Scottish Government is aware of European Union Directive 2002/44/EC. The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 were introduced to clearly set out the minimum health and safety requirements regarding the exposure of workers to the risks arising from vibration. They impose duties on employers to protect employees who may be exposed to risk from exposure to vibration at work, including health surveillance in certain circumstances where vibration at work may be a risk to health. These are in addition to the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.
In relation to maritime industries, the Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Control of Vibration at Work) Regulations 2007 and the Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Health and Safety at Work) Regulations 1997 provide protection for seafarers on UK ships parallel to the Health and Safety Executive regulations for workers in the UK. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency is responsible for enforcement of the merchant shipping regulations on ships.
There is no NHS monitoring of workforce exposure in the maritime industry.