NEWS & ANALYSIS FMJ.CO.UK
LEGAL VIEW
6 APRIL 2019
NOISE IS A BIG CAUSE OF
DISSATISFACTION IN THE
MODERN WORKPLACE
Noise in the workplace is having a negative impact on the wellbeing of
employees and impacting significantly on their productivity, according
to a major new survey.
In a survey of 1,000 UK-based o ice workers, 65 per cent reported that noise
in the workplace impacted on their ability to complete work in an accurate and
timely manner. Nearly half (44 per cent) said that noise had a negative impact on
their overall wellbeing, with over 40 per cent reporting that noise at work caused
them to feel stressed.
The ‘Noise and Wellbeing at Work 2019’ survey has been conducted by
intelligent business solutions company The Remark Group, supported by
Environmental Psychologist and Workplace Strategist Dr Nigel Oseland, an
honorary senior lecturer at UCL’s Institute for Environmental Design and
Engineering.
Interestingly, the survey highlighted that 52 per cent of people report they are
interrupted by noise distractions more than five times in a working day, with 17
per cent stating that they are interrupted more than 10 times a day.
Recent research suggests that every time we are interrupted, it takes 15
minutes to get back in a state of focus. This could mean over an hour of wasted
time each day for over half of the workforce, contributing significantly to lost
productivity.
Dr Nigel Oseland said: “Remark’s research shows that noise is the biggest cause
of dissatisfaction in the modern workplace, along with an associated loss of
performance, increased stress and poorer wellbeing.
“As more companies are adopting open plan design and agile working, the
core challenge to the workplace community, designers and suppliers is to
resolve o ice noise distraction and enhance focussed work, whilst maintaining
collaborative and creative environments.”
Sixty-four per cent of workers surveyed reported that they o˜ en su er from
a lack of privacy at work, with over half (51 per cent) stating that they have
overheard confidential or sensitive information being discussed in the o ice and
nearly 70 per cent have overheard a colleague being upset or distressed.
According to the survey, sudden bursts of noise are the most irritating in the
workplace, with the most annoying being: colleagues’ telephone conversations
(74 per cent); personal conversations (65 per cent); sudden laughter (62 per
cent); telephone ring tones (58 per cent); doors slamming (56 per cent); eating
noises (55 per cent); business conversations (53 per cent); coughing/sneezing/
sni ing (50 per cent) and music (40 per cent).
Sixty-five per cent of UK o ice workers state that the workplace environment
would impact on their decision on accepting a job o er whilst a massive 80 per
cent report a good working environment would a ect their decision to stay with
a company.
GUIDANCE FOR BUSINESSES TO
REGISTER ON NEW UK IT SERVICE
FOR CHEMICAL REGULATION
The UK Government published further guidance on 25 March
to businesses on the future of the UK’s chemical regulation.
If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, UK businesses that
manufacture, import or use chemicals will have to register
under UK REACH.
The new guidance explains the specifi c steps a business
must take to register a chemical online under UK REACH.
UK REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and
Restriction of Chemicals) will replace EU REACH in the UK,
and will require businesses to demonstrate how a chemical
can be safely used with minimal risk to human health or the
environment.
The chemicals sector is the UK’s second biggest
manufacturing industry, employing around 95,000 people
in the UK and a further 175,000 in industries that rely on
chemicals. A ‘no deal’ would mean that a range of businesses
would be unable to import chemicals directly from the
European Economic Area (EEA) opening account on UK
REACH IT. Sectors that rely on chemicals include the motor
manufacturing, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, construction and
cleaning products industries.
Launching on EU Exit day, the new online system will allow:
Businesses that have existing UK-held REACH registrations to
validate their registrations (‘grandfathering’)
Businesses that import chemicals from the EEA to submit
downstream user import notifications
Business to register new substance registrations or PPORD
notifications (Product and Process Orientated Research and
Development)
In order to minimise disruption in the event of a no-deal
Brexit, businesses that currently hold a REACH registration
are encouraged to access their ECHA REACH-IT account and
ensure that all the information relating to their business is
downloaded. Information required to comply with UK REACH
includes registration confi rmation documents and ECHA
decisions.
Environment Minister Thérèse Coff ey said: “Delivering a
negotiated deal with the EU remains the Government’s top
priority, but it is the job of a responsible Government to
ensure we are prepared for all scenarios, including no deal.
“It is not just chemicals producers that could be aff ected by
this change so I encourage all businesses that use chemicals
to read the guidance on the HSE website and check the actions
they need to take.”
Under the new requirements, if the UK leaves the EU without
a deal:
UK businesses that manufacture a chemical (those currently
registered to EU REACH) will need to validate their existing
registration with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) within
120 days of the UK leaving the EU.
UK businesses that import a chemical substance from the EU will
need to notify HSE within 180 days of the UK leaving the EU.
UK businesses that export chemicals to the EU will need to have
an EU REACH registration in place once the UK leaves the EU.
In addition, more technical information will need to be
submitted by businesses to HSE within two years of EU Exit.
The requirements are part of the Government’s commitment
to maintain environmental standards after we leave the EU.
Businesses that may be aff ected should read the latest
guidance on requirements for using chemicals after the UK
leaves the EU.