§ Mr. Concannonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the level of noise permitted while working underground for the National Coal Board.
§ Mr. MayhewI have been asked to reply.
The code of practice for reducing the exposure of employed persons to noise gives guidance on levels of occupational noise exposure which are regarded as giving rise to a serious risk of noise-induced hearing loss.
The code, whilst recognising that because of the large inherent variations of susceptibility between individuals, these levels are not in themselves guaranteed to remove all risks of damage to hearing, recommends an upper limit of 90 dB(A) for eight hours per day, or an equivalent exposure, for workers not wearing ear protection.
I am informed by the chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that this limit is used by Her Majesty's inspectors of mines and quarries in interpreting the requirements of section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974—which applies to work underground for the National Coal Board.