§ Mr. Scott-Hopkinsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he has taken to reduce the high noise levels to which tractor drivers are exposed inside tractor cabs; and what progress has been made in this matter.
§ Mrs. FennerIn the light of full consultations with all British interests concerned my right hon. Friends intend shortly to introduce regulations prescribing 90dBA as the maximum noise level inside tractor safety cabs. This new requirement will apply to tractors first sold for use in agriculture on or after 1st September 1975. For cabs sold for fitting to other tractors it will apply from the date that safety cabs will be mandatory on all tractors when driven by agricultural workers i.e. 1st September 1977. The 90dBA maximum level is that recommended by the Industrial Health Advisory Committee under conditions of 49W continuous exposure. It will be measured under operating conditions laid down in British Standard 4063. A revised version of this Standard is expected to be published shortly and our new regulations will be based upon it. I am glad to say that these proposals have the full support of the organisations representing farmers, farm workers, and the agricultural machinery industry, as well as the Noise Advisory Council and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents.
The European Commission has also been notified, with a view to the establishment of common standards throughout the enlarged Community.