SAFETY LIMITS FOR SOUND LEVELS IN DISCOTHEQUES

Dr Lily Neo asked the Minister for the Environment (a) for an update on the specifications and permissible safety limits for sound levels in discotheques; and (b) whether there were any public education programmes initiated to inform the young about this type of deafness.

Mr Yeo Cheow Tong: A committee was formed last year, comprising representatives from the Ministries of Manpower, Home Affairs, Health and Environment, to study the problem of noise-induced deafness in discotheques.

The committee drew up a set of guidelines, recommending that the music level in discos should not exceed 85 dBA over 8 hours and 140 dBA at any time. The guidelines were issued to the music entertainment industry in July 1998, with the help of the Association of Entertainment Organisations.

My Ministry, together with Ministry of Manpower, also conducted a survey among young discotheque patrons. The survey showed that while almost all of those surveyed knew of the danger of prolonged exposure to loud noise, about 10% chose not to believe it. We are therefore planning to launch a public education programme to reinforce public awareness of this danger.