Entertainment Industry

The entertainment industry is a forgotten area when it come to health and safety. Many workers in this sector accept noise as a part of their job and despite warnings, employers are doing little in most cases to provide suitable protective hearing equipment.

In April 2008 the existing regulations protecting workers in the music and entertainment sectors from exposure to excessive noise will be replaced by the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 (Noise Regulations). This recognised that music is unusual as it is noise deliberately created for enjoyment and therefore practical guidelines are necessary to help workers, employees and freelancers in the music and entertainment sectors protect their hearing and safeguard their careers.

Music and entertainment sectors are recognised as:

  • live music
  • recorded music played in a restaurant, bar, public house, discotheque or nightclub,
  • live dramatic or dance performance.

The responsibility for complying with the Noise Regulations rests with the employer. Employers in the music and entertainment sectors may include concert promoters, event organisers, theatrical producers, contractors and publicans.

Employers must:

  • assess the risks to employees from noise at work;
  • take action to reduce the noise exposure that produces those risks;
  • provide employees with hearing protection if the noise exposure cannot be reduced enough by using other methods;
  • make sure the legal limits on noise exposure are not exceeded;
  • provide employees with information, instruction and training. It is important that employees understand that the Noise Regulations also apply to them;
  • carry out health surveillance where there is a risk to health.

WE Solicitors LLP have represented a number of workers in this sector who were exposed to noise whilst working as security staff in nightclubs. In these cases the noise that was emitted by loud speakers far exceeded the levels of noise you would find in heavy industry.

If you work in this industry or have been affected by noise at work then contact us today.

Click here to see a case study of a former client who worked in this industry.

Some useful links on the the entertainment industry are:

http://www.hse.gov.uk/noise/mythaug07.pdf

http://www.soundadvice.info/index.htm