“Ear Plugs Prevent Noise Hazard”
(New Zealand Press Assodalion)
WELLINGTON, December 9. Noisy work is obnoxious work under the terms of awards if the intensity of the noise creates a hearing hazard to the unprotected ear over a period of time, the Arbitration Court held today in a reserved decision.
However, if an employer supplies ear plugs, and if the medical evidence is that there
is no hazard if they are properly used, then the work could not be termed obnoxious,, the Court added. The Court was adjudicating on a claim by the Wellington Freezing Workers* Union for pay rate under an obnoxious work clause for the operator of a bone-crushing machine at the Longburn freezing works. “If ear plugs are used, the work is not obnoxious . . . the circumstances that the worker refuses to wear the ear plugs cannot alter our decision,” said the Court’s decision. “By declining to accept a simple remedy, the worker is, in effect, creating his own banaid.” The Court accwted stat there was a degreeoTdisconfort and inconvenience Jal wearing the plugs, but could not accept that this made the work obnoxious. < J Judge A. B Blair signed the unanimous decision. I
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Bibliographic details
Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30930, 10 December 1965, Page 3
Word Count
196“Ear Plugs Prevent Noise Hazard” Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30930, 10 December 1965, Page 3
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