“Every man is surrounded by a neighbourhood of voluntary spies” – Jane Austen
It is impossible to run any business without generating some noise, the music and chatter of a busy pub can be a bone of contention with your neighbours, even though we all live our lives with noise constantly in the background.
Most of the time the noise emanating from a pub’s nothing to worry about, but noise complaints tend to peak during the spring and summer when pub customers start using outside areas, windows are opened in the pub and neighbours start to enjoy their gardens and leave their windows open.
The level of “noise tolerance” is different for everyone, however, when the length of exposure to certain noise levels is exceeded or when one-off noises (peaks) are particularly loud – it can cause health and other problems to employees, customers and neighbours.
In these circumstances you are legally required to assess the risks of noise and take steps to control noise above fixed action levels. Since 6 April 2008, lower noise action levels in the workplace applied to businesses in the music and entertainment sectors – this means you!
This guide will help to explain the types of noise common in your pub, when it is likely to be of concern and what you have to do about it.
Causes and Types of Noise
Noise pollution can be split into two categories: internal and external.
Internal noise can present a health hazard in many business activities. Sources of workplace noise might include loud music in the bar, a disco in your function room or even a particularly noisy kitchen.
External or environmental noise, which emanates from your pub or is caused by your activities or those of your customers outside, your premises can impact on the public.
Environmental noise may be regulated by the Environment Agency under the environmental permitting regime or by local authorities under statutory nuisance legislation.
Under current legislation, members of the public may make a complaint against your business.
When is noise considered to be hazardous?
As a rule of thumb, you may have a noise problem if you have to shout to be heard by someone two metres away and/or people’s ears ring after leaving your premises.
Continuous noises can present a hazard, for example constant loud music in the bar, but noise can also be a hazard when it’s sporadic for instance the noise of a boisterous set of football fans during a match you are screening.
The degree to which a noise presents a hazard depends on both its level and how long people are exposed to it. When assessing whether noise presents a health hazard consider its impact on:
- your employees
- your customers
You should also consider whether your business generates noise that could impact on members of the public living nearby.
You can download advice for employers on noise at work, from the HSE website.
Your legal duties on noise
It makes good business sense to reduce noise-related problems such as ringing in the ears, hearing damage and the stress noise can create. You have a general duty of care towards people who work for you and there are specific noise-related regulations you must comply with.
"Mwanamume yeyote amezungukwa na majirani wa wapelelezi wa kujitolea, ""Jane Austen"" ""Ni vigumu kuendesha biashara yoyote bila kuzalisha kelele, muziki na mazungumzo ya baa yenye shughuli nyingi inaweza kuwa chembe ya ugomvi na majirani zako, hata ingawa sisi sote tunaishi maisha yetu na kelele daima nyuma.""" Kwa kawaida, kelele kutoka kwenye baa haisumbui, lakini malalamiko ya kelele huongezeka wakati wa majira ya kuchipua na majira ya joto wakati wateja wa baa wanaanza kutumia maeneo ya nje, madirisha yanafunguliwa katika baa na majirani wanaanza kufurahia bustani zao na kuacha madirisha yao wazi. Kiwango cha "uvumilivu wa kelele" ni tofauti kwa kila mtu, hata hivyo, wakati muda wa mfiduo wa viwango fulani vya kelele unapozidi au wakati kelele za mara moja (peaks) ni kubwa sana inaweza kusababisha afya na matatizo mengine kwa wafanyakazi, wateja na majirani. Katika hali hizi wewe ni kisheria required kutathmini hatari ya kelele na kuchukua hatua za kudhibiti kelele juu ya viwango vya hatua zilizowekwa. Tangu Aprili 6, 2008, viwango vya chini vya kelele mahali pa kazi vimetumika kwa biashara katika sekta za muziki na burudani. Mwongozo huu utasaidia kuelezea aina za kelele za kawaida katika baa yako, wakati inawezekana kuwa ya wasiwasi na nini unapaswa kufanya kuhusu hilo. Sababu na Aina ya Kelele Uchafuzi wa kelele unaweza kugawanywa katika makundi mawili: ndani na nje. Kelele ya ndani inaweza kuwa hatari kwa afya katika shughuli nyingi za biashara. Vyanzo vya kelele mahali pa kazi vinaweza kujumuisha muziki wa sauti kubwa katika baa, disko katika chumba chako cha sherehe au hata jikoni yenye kelele sana. Sauti ya nje au ya mazingira, ambayo hutoka kwenye baa yako au husababishwa na shughuli zako au zile za wateja wako nje, majengo yako yanaweza kuathiri umma. Sauti ya mazingira inaweza kudhibitiwa na Shirika la Mazingira chini ya mfumo wa ruhusa ya mazingira au na mamlaka za mitaa chini ya sheria ya usumbufu wa kisheria. Chini ya sheria ya sasa, wanachama wa umma wanaweza kutoa malalamiko dhidi ya biashara yako. Ni wakati gani kelele huonwa kuwa hatari? Kama sheria ya kidole gumba, unaweza kuwa na tatizo la kelele ikiwa lazima upige kelele ili usikilizwe na mtu aliye mita mbili mbali na au masikio ya watu yanapiga kelele baada ya kuondoka kwenye majengo yako. Sauti ya mara kwa mara inaweza kuwa hatari, kwa mfano muziki wa sauti kubwa katika baa, lakini kelele pia inaweza kuwa hatari wakati ni sporadic kwa mfano kelele ya seti ya boisterous ya mashabiki wa mpira wa miguu wakati wa mechi wewe ni screening. Kiasi ambacho kelele hutoa hatari hutegemea kiwango chake na muda ambao watu hufichuliwa nayo. Wakati wa kutathmini kama kelele inawakilisha hatari ya afya, fikiria athari zake kwa: - wafanyakazi wako - wateja wako - unapaswa pia kuzingatia ikiwa biashara yako inazalisha kelele ambayo inaweza kuathiri watu wanaoishi karibu. Unaweza kupata ushauri wa kuajiri juu ya kelele kazini kwenye tovuti ya HSE. Kwa sababu ya athari za kelele, ni muhimu kupunguza matatizo yanayohusiana na kelele kama vile kulia masikioni, uharibifu wa kusikia na mkazo ambao kelele inaweza kusababisha. Kuna wajibu wa jumla wa huduma kwa watu wanaofanya kazi kwa ajili yenu na kuna kanuni maalum zinazohusiana na kelele lazima utii.