Lowering the tones

摘要

TWO YEARS after they came into force in the rest of Britain's workplaces, from 6 April 2008 the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 finally apply to the music and entertainment industry. The change represents a potentially baffling challenge to the sector, and looks set to produce major changes both in attitude and practice in music venues across the UK. Reducing the world's musical masterpieces to mere decibels has led to fun at the Regulations' expense in the newspapers, prompting headlines such as "Sleeping Beauty a health hazard". But though one may be more enjoyable to listen to than the other, the facts remain: a trumpet can make almost as much noise as a pneumatic drill; loud noise can damage hearing; and a trumpet player's hearing deserves as much protection as that of any other worker.