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The Press: Beethoven’s 9^th off limits in EU noise plan “Musicians are fighting to be exempted from a European Union directive to reduce workplace noise levels which will require hundreds of pieces of classical music to be played more quietly or not at all…” (The Times, 12 February 2002)

Work behind a bar? You have to wear earmuffs “Bar staff should wear earmuffs, according to an extraordinary proposal by a Euro-MP…” (Daily Mail, 24 January 2002)

Speak up ref, I’ve got ear plugs on me head - Euro MP in barmy bid to protect footballers from crowd noise “Football players could soon be ordered to wear ear plugs to protect them from the roar of the crowd. And guess who is considering this momentous decision? Why those lovers of straight bananas, the European Parliament, of course. The idea raises the prospect of David Beckham and team-mates playing marathon matches due to not hearing the final whistle. And cries like “On me head son” will go unheard. … Noise at big football games can top 110 [decibels]…” (Daily Express, 13 March 2002)

The Facts: The proposals in question are designed to reduce exposure to noise at work in places such as factories and airports where employees already have to wear ear protection.

Deafness is the most common occupational disease in the EU.

If agreed, the proposal would set certain limits on the amount of noise that workers would have to put up with in their place of work (basically 87 decibels for 8 hours). In bottling plants, for example, the noise level can easily reach and stay at over 100 decibels.

These rules will only apply to workers, not people enjoying themselves in pubs, clubs or at football matches.

It is purely for those who have no choice but to work in noisy conditions. Staff have to be given the option of ear protection by their employers and it is proposed that the employer shall be responsible for enforcing the wearing of hearing protectors and checking their effectiveness.

As for musicians, the European Parliament has proposed that the directive should only apply to the music and entertainment industry five years after it comes into force, with the Commission analysing the implications of the legislation for these sectors within two years of its implementation. On the basis of this report, the Commission would be requested to present a proposal, the aim of which may be either to exclude the music and entertainment activities from the scope of this directive or to regulate those activities by different means.

Notes: Once again we see the press reports were accurate this is an EU proposal, if agreed in its present form, footballers and bar staff club staff will have to wear protective equipment. Or the noise will have to be limited.

The proposal might well have been designed to reduce exposure to noise at work in places such as factories and airports where employees already have to wear ear protection but it will apply to other workers in other industries. Of course the question arises why the EU would want to legislate in an area they accept already has protection.

The EU Propaganda unit seems to think that an explanation of why these proposals are made equates to a rebuttal of the original claim made by the press it is not, the original claim was correct, again this was not a myth.