For years musicians have been experiencing deafness and hearing problems, especially those with a career playing loud instruments such as brass and percussion. Increasing levels of amplified music have extended these risks to more musicians and workers in entertainment venues. Musicians risk permanent damage that can seriously interfere with their ability to play.
Across Europe EU Directives and national legislation have required employers to protect their workers from noise. Stricter regulations came into force in 2006, but workers in music and entertainment have been allowed to work under the older, less restricted regulations until 2008.
In the UK this two year transitional period came to an end on 6 April this year. Musicians and other workers in music and entertainment venues are now under the UK Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005. The noise regulations will now apply to pubs and clubs, amplified live music events, orchestras and other premises where live music or recorded music is played thereby applying to all workers; such as musicians, DJ's, technicians, bar staff, security staff but not to customers.
The Institute of Acoustics, with the support of the Health and Safety Executive, is holding a meeting on 16 April at the Barbican, London, bringing together experts on health and safety in music and entertainment to talk about the issues raised by the regulations, the practical problems, and the real human consequences of doing nothing.
Many of the speakers at Playing Safe are experts who contributed to the music and entertainment industry "Sound Advice" guidance. These experts from different sectors in the music and entertainment industry have worked together with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to identify good practice that can help ensure compliance.
Speakers will be covering managing safety in different venues and performance conditions including major performance venues, large indoor and outdoor concerts, orchestras, and pubs and clubs. Their results show the duration and level of noise exposures can be as serious as any in noisy industry, and yet there is little awareness of the risks, or how to prevent the hearing damage of staff. They report average noise levels in orchestras reaching 100dB(A) for some musicians and overall daily noise exposure of musicians and ancillary staff exceeding the allowed limits by 20 times where amplified music is played.
In case anyone is in doubt about whether this is just more red tape, or real safety concerns Christian Meyer-Bisch, an international audiologist, will be presenting clear evidence of serious hearing damage seen in workers in the entertainment sector.
David Smeathen from the Health and Safety Executive, one of the speakers at the meeting, says: "We expect this to be a very productive day, raising awareness and getting the key points across to help the industry identify where the risks are greatest and implementing sensible control measure to reduce the risks o f hearing damage."
(Claire Beeson)
