By Jennifer Cosgrove

TAYSIDE POLICE Pipe Band’s manager remains unconcerned about an EU noise regulation law said to be causing havoc for bagpipe players in Scotland.

Inspector Grant Edwards said the band had been aware of the legislation, which came into force in other sectors in April 2006 and quickly began taking the appropriate steps to encourage band members to protect their hearing.

The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005, which replaced the Noise at Work Regulations 1989, states the level at which employers must ensure hearing protection is worn is 85 decibels, which means pipers must now protect their ears.

The music and entertainment sectors were given two years grace to bring themselves in line with other parts of industry and the ruling of April 6 now regulates pubs, clubs, amplified live music events, orchestras and other premises where live music is played or recorded.

This met with objection from pipers who say it is almost impossible to tune the instruments while wearing earplugs.

Inspector Grant Edward said his 40-strong pool of pipers have already been getting in practice wearing their new ear protection.

“As employers, we have been aware of the legislation changes since 2005 and we have a force safety advisor who identified the pipe band as the main group at risk.

“In June 2006, we wrote to all members and updated them about the new legislation and they signed to say they had read the letter.

“We have taken steps to ask members to wear earplugs and some have been given bespoke earplugs, which have been tailor-made by audiologists.”

He said they ensure practice sessions take place in a high-roofed building, such as the gymnasium at Baluniefield Training Centre in Dundee.

“Drummers play separately from pipers, and pipers practise on their chanters, which are much less noisy. They only play for a short time as a full band.

“We’re a grade one pipe band so competitions are outside and the pipes are played outside.”

Thousands are exposed to loud noise at work, with 170,000 in the UK suffering deafness, tinnitus or other ear conditions as a result of excessive noise at work.

It is thought pipe bands play at around 122 decibels outdoors, while the noise at a nightclub can be around 110 decibels.

A Health and Safety Executive spokesman said the regulations were based purely on the effects of exposure to noise energy and that no distinction was made between origins of the sound.

The severity of exposure depends upon how much noise is made and how long people are exposed to it.

There was a dismissive and angry response yesterday from John Rankin, of Cupar Piping Society, who has played the pipes for over 60 years since starting with the Boys’ Brigade in Paisley, writes Gordon Berry.

He described the situation as “absolutely ludicrous” and said there was no way bagpipe music can be compared with nightclubs or any other type of noise.

“The worst thing we did was go anywhere near Europe. There are rules for just about everything, from bananas to cucumbers, and now we have this.

“It’s impossible to play the pipes softly,” he said.

Mr Rankin said he had been unaware of any new regulations and there had been no official notification of noise legislation to the society.