How loud is loud? A role for the OHSA

I believe that the Occupational Health and Safety Authority is operating within the confines of its remit as permitted by the ongoing circumstances, consequently extra responsibilities might be a further deterrent to its capacity.

Therefore, may I modify my original suggestion (Noise: Nuisance or Hazard, September 25) to read: OHSA through its expertise will be the supporting agency to facilitate the measure of noise intensity, and assess the noise hazard, in order to expedite remedial action. This, on the principle that redress from excessive noise should be equal to all in the shortest time possible.

The reason for my suggestion is that only OHSA have the means to measure noise while the other agencies are evaluating loudness subjectively; hence redress varies according to the individual perception of how loud is loud!

This suggestion would have been superfluous if Malta had a Noise Ordinance Law, which would institutionalise noise control.

OHSA's role is pivotal to protect workers at the place of work from harmful noise exposure. The lower exposure action value is 80 dB (A) LEP. Consequently, strict observation of noise level at the place of work is also pivotal to the reduction of environmental noise pollution spillage to the neighbours, due to the 6 dB double distance rule (free field, point source only).

Furthermore, the construction and the leisure industries have regulations against noise pollution as in 2003/10/EC and the Trading Licence Act. However, efficient and speedy enforcement and redress is subject to the factual evaluation of noise, which at present is the domain of OHSA.

May I suggest that the Guidance On Occupational Noise 2005 be sponsored by the unions and the employers association to be distributed at no cost to the employees.

In addition, the safety precautions and obligations as regards noise and vibration should be made available to the employees.