The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005

These came into force for all industry sectors in Great Britain on 6 April 2006 (except for the music and entertainment sectors where they came into force on 6 April 2008).

The aim of the Noise Regulations is to ensure that workers' hearing is protected from excessive noise at their place of work, which could cause them to lose their hearing and/or to suffer from tinnitus (permanent ringing in the ears). Here's an appalling description from the HSE website;

The level at which employers must provide hearing protection and hearing protection zones is now 85 decibels (daily or weekly average exposure) and the level at which employers must assess the risk to workers' health and provide them with information and training is now 80 decibels. There is also an exposure limit value of 87 decibels, taking account of any reduction in exposure provided by hearing protection, above which workers must not be exposed.

85 decibels? 85 decibels-what? Elephants? If they are publishing what is legally-binding material why don't they put in the units properly. The decibel is a ratio, a fraction, not a unit of measurement. I have a feeling they mean 85 dB(a).

PDF of the regulations

Bye bye Strongbox

I've been using acoustic enclosures in numerous projects for many years - until two weeks ago Strongbox was my weapon of choice - but no longer! A recent set of badly missed deliveries and poor quality finishes drove me to look for another builder of isolated bays. I came upon Cab Tech - link in the title.
I've just put in one with a Terrablock and it seems to provide better sound dampening whilst having a smaller footprint - the cooling unit is in the roof.

When the equipment fails......

Tonight I had a great evening - I went to a tiny little music pub in Brixton to see three of the giants of Americana - Steve Dawson of Dolly Varden, The Amazing Pilots and my musical hero - Bill Mallonee (ex frontman of The Vigilantes of Love).
Half way through Bill's set the PA starts acting up so quick as a shot he leaps off the stage with an acoustic and does a blinding set there in the crowd - what a pro! You can bet that most of the acts in the top-twenty couldn't come near that level of musicianship.