The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work has launched a Europe-wide campaign to tackle one of Europe’s most persistent workplace health problems - noise at work. The campaign under the slogan, ‘Stop that noise!’, with the tagline, ‘Noise at work - it can cost you more than your hearing’, will culminate with the European Week for Safety and Health at Work 24-28 October 2005.

Noise can cause, or be a factor in causing, not only hearing disabilities and harm to the ears through exposure to dangerous substances but also work-related stress, an increased risk of workplace accidents and harm to a worker’s unborn child.

The campaign, which will be underpinned by a range of printed and online information, including examples of good practice, will be supported by thousands of events in 31 European countries, including Member States, as well as candidate and EFTA countries. Coordinated by the Agency’s network of National Focal Points, events will range from training initiatives and promotional campaigns to seminars and workshops. In addition, businesses and occupational safety organisations will be invited to sign an online campaign charter to demonstrate their commitment to more effective noise management. Full details can be found at the Agency’s special European Week 2005 website.