asked the Minister for Labour when the draft EEC regulations on noise levels in industry will be available.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Noise Level Regulations.
2.
The EEC Commission forwarded to the EEC Social Affairs Council in October 1982, a proposal for a Council directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to noise. The Council's examination of the proposal is continuing but it is not possible to say when this will be completed and when a Council directive in the matter will be formally adopted.
Has the Minister any information available on the number of people who have suffered hearing defects as a result of excessive noise in industry?
No, those figures would not be available to me. They would be the subject of a separate question.
Can the Minister of State say what the position is at present?
Legislation is already in operation here dealing with the question of noise, as is the case in a number of EEC countries. In Ireland the legislation is the Safety in Industry Act which forbids the exposure of a person to a sound pressure level of such intensity and duration as is likely to cause harm. If the sound pressure level exceeds 90 decibels the exposure time must be reduced or hearing protectors must be provided and worn. The regulations to deal with the matter are the Factories (Noise) Regulations, 1975, S.I. No. 235 of 1975.
Is it proposed to amend them?
The question of amendment of domestic legislation is not at this stage under consideration but the draft directive under consideration in Europe would have the effect in some instances of reducing those levels.
How many times have the Minister of State, his senior Minister or his predecessor in the last year and a half made public statements on the importance of safety in industry? The reason I ask that is that with regard to the noise we are talking about here, the use of ear muffs or ear protectors has increased, I am glad to say. It is more widespread by far than it was, but I believe it can be promoted still further and an obligation is on the Minister or the Minister of State to promote the extension of the use of ear protectors. I have not seen any great publicity given to the activity of either Minister in this area. Perhaps the Minister of State can enlighten me.
For my part I have availed of every opportunity since my appointment to speak on this subject of safety. I have availed of every platform provided by the National Industry Safety Organisation or any other organisation to put forward that case. I have also taken the opportunity of putting my views in a number of articles through the publications of the National Industrial Safety Organisation. In the near future I will be attending their annual quiz, which is one of the major events of their calendar, and I will avail of the suggestion put forward by Deputy Fitzgerald to refer specifically to the noise question, which I think is worth while.
Will the Minister of State tell us if his Department have any mechanism to monitor the effects of excessive noise in industry generally?
The question of the policing of the regulations is a matter for the industrial inspectors and they perform that task.