§ Mr. Luceasked the Secretary of State for Employment what progress is being made by the Industrial Health Advisory Sub-Committee on Noise; what evidence is available about the effect on the hearing of employees subjected to high levels of noise; and whether he will publish the evidence.
§ Mr. Harold WalkerThe Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission informs me that the Commission has invited interested parties to comment on the report "Framing Noise Legislation" which was produced by the Industrial Health Advisory Sub-Committee on Noise and published in November 1975. It is expected that proposals for regulations on occupational noise, backed by an approved code of practice, will be prepared in the light of these comments. Two Working Groups of the Noise Sub-Committee are drafting documents of guidance on audiometry and on machinery noise reduction.
The most comprehensive work on the effects of high levels of noise on hearing is "Hearing and Noise in Industry" by Professor W. Burns and Dr. D. W. 891W Robinson, published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office in 1970.