§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many people are working in conditions where the noise level is greater than (a) 84 decibels, (b) 90 decibels and (c) 96 decibels;
(2) how many separate factories or works have a noise level likely to be such that it might cause occupational deafness; and how many separate factories or works there are which the eight health, and safety inspectors who specialise in noise control, would be expected to visit annually;
(3) how many employers are not complying with the code of practice relating to noise; and how many workers they employ.
§ Mr. Jim LesterThe table below contains estimates made by the Health and Safety Executive of the number of workers in United Kingdom manufacturing industry exposed above the various levels:
636W
Exposure greater than (8 hour equivalent continuous sound level—dB(A)) Number exposed (thousands) 84 1,600 90 600 96 200 NOTES
(1) Derived from a survey of 488 factories employing a total of 78,300 people in manufacturing industry (SIC orders III-XIX) and based on estimate of 5.2 million persons employed in these industries.
(2) The survey involved measurement of the noise level to which production workers—that is, all workers except office workers—were exposed for more than six hours and for less time than this. Some estimation has been involved in deriving "equivalent continuous sound level" from this information.
High noise levels are known to exist in most other major industries, including agriculture, construction, quarrying, shipping, transport, railway work, forestry and entertainment. However, no estimate of the number of people exposed to various levels is available, except that some limited evidence suggests that, underground in coal mines, the percentage of the work-force exposed above 90 dB (A) is about the same as in manufacturing industry.
I regret that information on how many separate factories or works have a noise level likely to be such that it might cause occupational deafness is not readily available.
All qualified inspectors of the Factory Inspectorate are trained in noise measurement and basic principles of noise control. Risks from noise are considered in the course of basic inspections; the eight inspectors specialising in noise control act as consultants to these inspectors, and do not have a specific number of premises which they are expected to visit annually.
I regret that information on how many employers are not complying with the recommendations of the code of practice and how many workers they employ is not available.