Orbital Sound has been working closely with industry bodies, such as PLASA, to raise awareness of The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 Act, following the expiry of the two-year period of grace extended to the entertainment industry by the HSE.
PLASA's technical resources manager, Ron Bonner comments, "The entertainment industry has to start taking the requirements of the Control of Noise at Work Regulations seriously. It is only a matter of time before noise in entertainment is seen as a high priority by the regulating authorities and unless there is a better understanding and a proactive move to meet those requirements, the first prosecutions will undoubtedly follow. The cost implication of any subsequent action is extremely high, but even higher to those that suffer noise-induced hearing problems as a direct result of your failure to protect them."
Working with a wide cross-section of theatre companies, concert promoters and live performance venues across the UK, Orbital Sound has conducted numerous risk assessments, assisting production management to address breaches and help protect staff, casts, musicians and contractors from over-exposure to high noise levels. During the ABTT Theatre Show, Orbital Sound's risk assessment team, headed up by technical director Tim Sherratt, will be on hand to answer delegates' questions.
"We have put together ten of the most common questions we get asked, as a good way of understanding whether you are affected and need to conduct a Noise at Work risk assessment," says Sherratt. "The danger of not taking this seriously cannot be stressed enough - the HSE has the power to halt a production if it believes the Act is not being complied with, and a venue could lose its entertainment licence.
The penalties are eye-watering, versus the cost of ensuring compliance from the outset. We are here to help explain what is involved, and who is affected - on the basis that the faster the entertainment industry gets to grips with the Noise at Work Regulations, the less cause there will be for the HSE to make good its threat to come down heavily on us. Our fate is in our own hands."
(Jim Evans)
