Legal Question

ExOffender

I looked for a Law forum to post this, but didn't see one. Apologies if I missed it. Any budding legal heads can chew on this: is there a case to be made under the legislation that brought in the smoking ban for restricting the volume of music played in pubs? I mean the duty of care to employees thing. I remember a few years ago a bunch of Army band-players sued the State over damage to their hearing... could something like this be applied to all places of work?
Pubs that play music very loudly do so purely to make people talk less and drink more. [sad b*stard]I have very sensitive hearing, and I'm just a little bit sick of it.[/sad b*stard]

Sangre

Yes if the levels are high enough to be considered noise pollution. There is also considerable legislation on noisely pollution affecting employess designed to protect Construction workers. It essentially says the employer must provide earplugs etc over a certain decbel level and max. decibels allowed for the day and what not.
I'm sure pub/nightclub employees would be covered, afaik I know you can't waive you statutory safety rights when taking employment.

Of course I'm not a qualified legal professional so if you have a problem go seek advice or try FLAC (free legal aid centre)

funky penguin

I'm sick of loud music in pubs aswell. That should be for clubs alone.

Rabies

Work places can't be over a certain level of decibels (sp) in manufacturing industry without proper ear protection supplied so i presume it would be the same in the service industry. Dunno what the level is, google for it.

ExOffender

No, you can't waive your statutory rights, otherwise we'd have smoking and non-smoking pubs, like any sane society. Isn't there a duty of care to the goddamn customers, too, though?