Businesses Urged to Turn Down the Volume Media Release PR 513 Businesses playing loud or recorded music and similar broadcasts can now access important information about how to protect staff from exposure to loud noise from dedicated Information Packs produced by Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council's Public Health Dept, in partnership with every local authority in South East Wales and the Health and Safety Executive. These packs will be issued to all relevant businesses in the County Borough in July.
The Information Packs are part of an initiative aimed at helping businesses to ensure they are complying with the new laws following regulations that came into force two years ago that now apply to the entertainments industry regarding the safe management of exposure to loud noise.
"The hearing of anyone that works in a restaurant, pub, club, or anywhere that plays recorded or live music may be at risk due to exposure to excessive noise," said Craig Sewell, Environmental Health Officer at the Council's Public Health Department. "Hearing loss that is caused by exposure to noise is, according to the World Health Organisation, the most “prevalent irreversible industrial disease” so staff unable to hear normal conversation in the workplace from 1 metre away, even for a short time, (30 minutes) may have their hearing affected."
Mr Sewell continued: "The Information Packs are highlighting to employers how they can ensure that the hearing and wellbeing of their staff are being looked after, and how reducing noise exposure to staff can be carried out through simple and cost-effective measures without having to reduce the enjoyment of the music to the customers."
Environmental Health Officers from MTCBC will attend some businesses to check they are complying with the new laws following the launch of the Information Packs and further information is available from www.soundadvice.info - a new dedicated web site for information on noise control in the entertainments industry and also www.dontlosethemusic.com
Cllr. Tony Rogers, portfolio member for Customer Corporate Services at the Council said: "We would encourage employers in the entertainments industry to get hold of, and carefully read the information packs and visit the websites that are providing this important advice about something which can quite easily be managed to safeguard the health and well-being of the community."
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