REDUCING NOISE

Press, Volume C, Issue 29523, 26 May 1961, Page 12

REDUCING NOISE

Legislation In

N.Z. Forecast Legislation to keep industrial noise down to proscribed levels is “sure to come” in New Zealand, according to the Health Department’s consultant on otology (Dr. A. C. Miller). "Most employers, :f approached reasonably, are prepared to go voluntarily to some lengths to prevent deafness in their workers, but there is always a hard nucleus for whom legislation is necessary,” said Dr. Miller. In the United States, "tremendous” claims for compensation from workers for hearing loss helped to keep noise levels down. "The same thing will happen here when workers get to know the position,” Dr. Miller said.

Another powerful force in restraining the upward trend of noise levels was the re. fusal of some workers to tolerate noisy conditions. Machinery was being specially designed to reduce noise. This often led to heavy increases in the cost of the machines, but many managements calculated that their saving in staff absenteeism and turnover and the general improvement of working conditions more than made up for the extra initial cost. Dr, Miller hopes to see the early appointment of an acoustic engineer in the Health Department. One of his jobs would be to advise on how industrial noise could be minimised, both in the original installation of machines and in their use afterwards; he could also make an important contribution to the control of street noise.