Noise induced hearing loss is often cumulative and not immediately obvious. Any threat to hearing has to be taken seriously as the effects of overexposure to noise are irreversible. The HSE wants noise output reduced to 80 dB(A) first action level and 85 dB(A) second action level. The problem for the theatre and music industry is that "noise" is our living,
A number of speakers have been assembled to air their thoughts and to answer questions. Among them will be: Paul Gillieron (acoustician), John A. Leonard (sound designer), Pauline Dalby (Musicians' Union), Brian Powell (Sonomax) and Ken Bennett Hunter (theatre management consultant).
John Watts was the Health & Safety Officer at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre for many years and, at the time of his premature death in November 2000, was in charge of Health & Safety for the technical team at the Millennium Dome. This annual lecture is a memorial to a man who did a great deal during his life to ensure that performance spaces were safe working environments. The lecture is sponsored by the Association of British Theatre Technicians.
(Jim Evans)
