Small and medium sized businesses in Bradford are being warned about new noise regulations coming into force soon.

The new Noise at Work Regulations aim to reduce the amount of noise which employees are exposed to by almost 50 per cent.

The legislation is due to come into force in April, with a two-year transitional period for the music and entertainment industry until April 2008.

Experts have warned that the new legislation could see noise-induced hearing loss claims increase massively as it becomes a recognisable injury and a statutory breach of safety.

The new and reduced noise levels will mean that a much larger working population will fall within the scope of the regulations and that industries and activities previously not classed as "high risk" noisy environments will have to re-evaluate their position.

The new regulations primarily affect firms in the garage, music store and pub and club industry.

Awards for damages for the impact of hearing loss can vary between £4,000 and £18,000 and in some cases higher depending on the severity of the disability.

Douglas Dale, risk control manager at insurance group Axa, said: "Companies that are likely to exceed the new level should undertake comprehensive assessment of employees' noise exposure.

"Even those organisations who have hearing conservation programmes in place will need to review the attenuation values currently provided by the existing hearing protection in use.

"This will ensure the protection provided continues to meet the new reduced noise exposure levels."

Among the advice being given to businesses to protect employees' hearing are:

- Inform workers about potential dangers of hearing loss and the efforts that your firm has taken to minimise these risks

- Hearing protection for all employees

- Reduce and prevent noise exposure at sources by introducing acoustical control measures

- Carry out noise assessments by occupational hygienists and noise specialists. Carry these out every time alterations are made in the working environment.

The warnings are being given well in advance to give employers the chance to avoid similar scenes to those seen in 1989, which happened when the last set of Noise at Work Regulations were introduced.

The changes resulted in claims as employers had failed to take precautions to protect their employees' health.