Bar staff 'should wear ear plugs'
Bar staff 'should wear ear plugs'
Campaigners have attacked the music and entertainment industry for not preparing measures to protect the hearing of bar and club workers. The Royal National Institute for Deaf People RNID) said staff working where loud music was played should get ear plugs. A poll of 200 businesses showed that over half of employers have no plans to make hearing protection available - despite new laws coming in next year. Under the new rules, firms have to ensure staff are protected where noise exceeds 85 decibels. Most clubs and some pubs and bars will exceed this, but the music and entertainment industry has been given an exemption until next April. The RNID poll found that 68 per cent of employers were unaware they had to comply with the law and 55 per cent had no plans to make hearing protection available. Emma Harrison, head of campaigns at the RNID, said: 'Prolonged exposure to loud noise can cause permanent hearing loss and if properly implemented these regulations will save the hearing of literally hundreds of thousands of people in the music and entertainment industries. If they are ignored or implemented half-heartedly employers could face a wave of compensation claims for staff.' She added that there were ear plugs available which blocked out background noise but will still enable staff behind the bar to take drinks orders. 'We are not trying to stop people enjoying themselves, just protect the hearing of staff.'
Stay Updated
Want to hear about our latest news and blogs?
Sign up now to get it straight to your inbox