§ Mr. Flanneryasked the Secretary of State for Employment what position the Government have taken on proposals for (a) a 90-decibel noise A level and (b) the compulsory wearing of hearing protection.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyThe draft European directive on noise does not require all action to take effect at a single exposure level. The Government agree that 90 dB(A) is one of the levels at which appropriate action is required. The Government accept that in some circumstances the wearing of hearing protection should be compulsory but regards the Commission's amended proposal an improvement on the original as fewer workers would be required to wear personal protection at noise levels where danger to their hearing might not be apparent.
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