Reading Festival tackles Noise at Work

Most people will be aware of the implications of the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 on the event industry, but most organisations have yet to make a decisive move on policy and controls.

TESS worked extensively with Festival Republic's Noel Painting, rep's from Reading Borough Council and the Health and Safety Laboratory to develop a comprehensive set of noise control plans.  These included briefing notes to all traders and the allocation of stalls into colour-coded zones depending on likely noise exposure for staff.

Controls extended to the provision of hearing protection and specially made advisory signs for each trade stand.  This parallels what has been going on in stage pits and on stages for the past couple of years, and represents a significant development. 

Clearly each stall operator has a duty to protect their own staff, but Festival Republic have raised the bar in terms of advice, information and assistance to everyone working on the Reading site.