Anyone else suffer with low Frequency noise at work? I have recently moved desks at work and I am sat near some power conduits from which emanates a constant low frequency humming noise which you can just about hear, and to be honest its driving me nuts, and am now suffering with blinding headaches, irritableness and general fuckoffness at work.

Now I have mentioned this to my boss, and basically he says, yes we know about it, but its not damaging your hearing so MTFU.

So I was wondering if anyone on here knows what I can do try and prevent me killing someone? as the constant headaches are driving me nuts and ear defenders + ear plugs don't seem to help, as they block out everything but the hum which makes things worse.

Feels like I am part of a physiologic experiment at the moment, and every time my boss comes over with the MTFU attitude its all I can do not to punch his lights out 🙁

MTFU 😀

I almost MTFU'ed someone with a blunt instrument on Friday 😉

blinding headache is back, bad temper is coming on nicely, might try and discuss this with my boss again today, but this time at the top of a few flights of stairs.

Go to a DR and go off on the sick.
Document the effects etc.
Speak to the Union.
Explain how simply changing desks mean you can attend work they will take the hint when you do one week in on week out!

speak to citezens advice/ union rep/ hse – surely if it gives you headaches it is not right.

threaten your boss with a lawsuit.

He admits the noise exists.

You have told him it is affecting your health.

He's ignored you.

I'd say you have a good case.

Visit your doc and get the symptoms recorded and then confront the boss.

I am going to book an appointment with a Doctor today, and the ultimately irony is I am being made redundant in 5 weeks and he wants me to do tons of work as they are going to be swamped when I leave, and I can barely talk to anyone as the headaches are so bad.

sick leave it is then.

Sorry, sounds very much like you just said you'd been signed off sick for the next 5 weeks.

I am being made redundant in 5 weeks and he wants me to do tons of work

If I was being made redundant I'm afraid my work ethic would go right out the window. Absolute minimum.

But I'd go sick if I were you.

You seem to have the boss over a barrel – move me or else.

well that was quick, I emailed environmental health, the EHS rep walk into my area (as he was on site) stood there for 30 seconds and is now arranging for me to move, and he is amazed I haven't killed anyone.

Just move your desk.

made redundant in 5 weeks and work is affecting your health.
Send an e-mail to boss detailing all the converstaions you have had /requests/ ill health etc saying that if they cannot move your desk you will need to go and see a DR at dinner time. MENTION STRESS IN IT
Dont return for about 5 weeks.

Honestly you owe them nothing at all you are not even really an employee any more are you. Why risk your health / murder charge?

I've now moved, and the buzzing has gone. Dr's appointment this afternoon, and the EHS reps are interested in the results as I wasn't the only person suffering. Feeling much better I can actually think now, and the headache has dropped to a dull ache 😐 Should have just gone straight to Occupation health straight away rather than bother with speaking to my manager, feel bit daft putting up with blinding headaches for 2 weeks now.

… and to top if off my boss is now trying to arrange for me to work (for free of course) on a couple of weekends as we are so busy 🙄

Roll on the end of Oct.

They're making you redundant, but are going to be swamped when you leave? They're making you redundant, but are asking you to work unpaid overtime?

Sounds like the noise isn't the only thing you need to talk to your union about!

f7ck 'em.
you don't owe them anything. get your doc to sign you off anyway.

company I work for, doesn't acknowledge unions or their representatives (US company).

I am getting a decent payout so I don't really care tbh, as long as they don't screw my health up due to cost savings, I am happy to get out of here before it folds up around them.

They're making you redundant, but are going to be swamped when you leave? They're making you redundant, but are asking you to work unpaid overtime?

I hope that you are going to tell your boss that you're extremely busy using your weekends to look for employment and as such will not be available to work. Either that or just to f*** off.

Are you for real fella??? Are you in line for a big pay out? I doubt it by the sounds of it (no pun intended) either get yoursellf on the sick with stress, then claim for industrial injury or just don't go back in to work and leave them in a world of shit. You owe them nothing and they are showing you no loyalty. As for working weekends tell him 'How does get f***ed sound!'

I am in line for a big payout, so I am being careful not to **** it up. However working weekends, and being driven nuts by noise is something I am not prepared to live with.

… and to top if off my boss is now trying to arrange for me to work (for free of course) on a couple of weekends as we are so busy

Tell him to **** right off.

Ah, well a big pay out puts a different slant on it. Going sick can't jeopardise that though I'm pretty sure.

Ah, well a big pay out puts a different slant on it. Going sick can't jeopardise that though I'm pretty sure

Any sort of compromise agreement in place?

And neither can refusing to work for free during the weekend (presumably your contract does not state that you will do this).
Some managers really do take the p1ss.

I haven't been given all the paperwork yet. However I am led to believe there will be, and to tell the truth once I have got the money, I will be glad to see the back of where I am working.

Contract says work 37.5 hours a week + any additional time as required. So that normally means around 50 hours a week + 1 weekend every 6 to 8 weeks.

If you are being made redundant why would there be "any additional time" required?

Also

I haven't been given all the paperwork yet. However I am led to believe there will be

This sounds really suspect to me.

You could be stuck then. That's a pretty open contract and they could legally have had you working every day for no extra money. Ouch.

Be careful if you haven't got any paperwork yet

redundancy payments are usually calculated as an average of your last 12 weeks work, if you go sick will this be affected?

They are paying me a lot of money to leave a job I hate, in a company that is so concerned with saving pennies that they don't even concern themselves with the thousands of pounds they lose in other areas.

So to tell the truth I am happy, and I am 100% certain they won't change the package or end date. I am especially happy now they have moved me away from the **** humming power conduits as well. 😉 As for the paperwork, I am pretty certain HR have done all the work I just haven't been shown it yet, as one of my colleagues who is also 'impacted' got his last week and it exactly as expected.

richc – sorry to hijack this thread- about 7/8 years ago I went on what was billed as the 'stw 'core weekend' in Wales somewhere- I think you were there, – can you remember where it was?

Not me, I never managed to pull my finger out make it on a forum ride 🙁

richc – sorry to hijack this thread- about 7/8 years ago I went on what was billed as the 'stw 'core weekend' in Wales somewhere- I think you were there, – can you remember where it was?

http://www.team-chr.co.uk/gallery/Core_weekend

Well rich, whatever happens I wish you very good luck.
I have been the victim of redundancy in the past (w@nker manager) and would not wish it on anyone. I hope that you get a very good payoff and find a brilliant new job. I get no payoff but did get an excellent job and I am far far happier without the stress of working with a person who I hated more than anything. I'll meet him again someday and he won't enjoy it!

Cool, sounds like everything worked out well for you backhander 😉

I see it as a positive thing as trying new things is better than stagnating in job you don't enjoy, and are only there because change is 'difficult' 😉

Thats the one Drac- where did we ride?

50 hrs a week average? Have you opted out of the european working time directive then? (if it still applies)

no, the 'additional time as required' bit apparently gets around that.

Like I said, I am looking forward to getting a job where you can work from home sometimes, < 10 hours a day isn't seen as slacking, you receive training and you don't loathe going into work 😉

Thats the one Drac- where did we ride?

Quarry near Oswestry and Nnat something or other.

Sorry can't recall the names either.

Low frequency noise doesn't normally lead to headaches , unless it's infra sound in which case you won't be hearing it, just feeling odd, or you are super sensitive in which case you would most likely been suffering from simialr symptoms sporadically throught your life, Most likely cause was high EMF field from poorly sheilded electrical supply/power source the humming low frequency noise being and indicator of the problem rather than source.

if you need any more info drop me an email (in profile) I'm a occupational health and safety specialist, with lots of building accoustic and EMF experience.