§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what is his estimate of the number of firms, and the number of workers involved, in which the occupational noise level exceeds 80 decibels;
(2) if he will introduce legislation to oblige employers to take all possible steps to reduce occupational noise to an 80 decibel level;
(3) if he will recommend occupational health control limits which guarantee the prevention of severe health handicap; and if he will define 80 decibels as an acceptable threshold of harm in future noise regulations.
§ Mr. WaddingtonThe Health and Safety Commission consultative document "Protection of Hearing at Work"148W contains Health and Safety Executive estimates of the numbers exposed to noise at work. These suggest that, in United Kingdom manufacturing industry, more than 2½ million production workers are exposed above an eight-hour equivalent continuous sound level of 80 decibels. I regret that similar information in respect of other industries, and on the number of firms involved, is not available.
The Commission is preparing proposals for regulations and a supporting code of practice about the protection of hearing at work for submission to my right hon. Friend. I understand that these are likely to define the actions which employers and others should take to reduce noise exposure.
The Commission will establish its proposals in the light of comments received from interested bodies on the consultative document. I understand that many of these comments relate to the question of what limit value the regulations should contain. I do not know what value will be recommended, but it is bound to take into account the reduced risks of hearing loss at the lower levels of sound exposure, and the costs to industry of protective measures for the much larger numbers of people involved.