Control of Noise Levels in Entertainment Venues

Elmbridge Borough Council is highlighting measures introduced by the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005, which came into force in April 2008, to control noise levels in pubs, bars, clubs and concert venues and so help protect the health and hearing of staff and customers. Exposure to noise can cause damage to hearing and result in noise induced hearing loss. It is estimated that excessive noise in the workplace has caused around 500,000 people living in the UK to suffer deafness or other hearing difficulties.

Suggested tips to help protect your hearing and that of your employees:

• Try to reduce time spent in a place with loud music to as short a period as possible.
• Simple in-ear devices should be worn, which filter sound but do not block it completely at gigs and in nightclubs.
• Regular breaks should be taken from areas with loud noise to allow the ears a chance to recover.
• Ensure people stand away from loud speakers.
• Those exposed to loud noise in the workplace should wear hearing protection.
• If concerned about noise levels, either inside or outside of work, talk to a manager, contact the |Health & Safety Executive or your |Local Authority.
• The volume of personal music players should not be turned up too loudly in noisy places, such as on trains or the underground, instead noise cancelling headphones should be used.
• If suffering from persistent problems with hearing or ears, GP advice should be sought.

For more information about the control of noise contact |Environmental Health & Licensing or visit our |noise advice webpages.