EXCESSIVE NOISE IN FACTORIES

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27470, 2 October 1954, Page 3

EXCESSIVE NOISE IN FACTORIES

Ear Plugs Available To Workers

As part of a survey of industry designed to help in the protection of workers’ hearing and to minimise discomfort from excessive noise, the Industrial Medical Officer (Dr. A. Douglas) has made a tape recording of typical industrial noises in Christchurch factories. He has also sent a circular to all industries where noise is a hazard, stating that workers can have ear plugs made to measure through the department. Dr. Douglas said yesterday that already some 80 pairs of ear defenders had been ordered, but the campaign, which had reached between 200 and 300 factories in all, had not produced the response expedted. There was a lot of educational work to be done yet, he said.

The ear plugs, made of dental acrylic, were processed by dental mechanics, said Dr Douglas. Casts were taken of workers’ ears. For most jobs nothing elaborate was required, and where the volume of sound and its frequency was not high, small plastic plugs, costing 6s a pair, sufficed. The other ’ types of plugs, made to measure, cost from 25s a pair and 15s a pair. Dr. Douglas said that noise could reduce production by its effect on concentration. Permanent deafness could be caused by constant excessive n ° is ®» particularly when it was high-