Political speeches: a health risk?

Noisy Commons Could Fall on Deaf Ears

The Hansard reporters, who produce the Official Report, recording the daily proceedings of Parliament, have been warned they could be risking tinnitus or hearing loss if they turn up the volume on their headphones too high and listen for too long.

They sit for hours transcribing tape recordings of the debates in the Commons and Lords to produce verbatim texts. It was discovered that some reporters had been turning up the volume on their tape machines higher than recommended safety levels.

Like people who listen to personal stereos for long periods at too high a level, it is feared they could be damaging their eardrums.

An expert from the University of Southampton was assigned to study their working practices and his findings have led to new measures being introduced to prevent problems.

According to Dr Mike Lower, of the university's Institute of Sound and Vibration Research, it does not matter what an MP's political persuasion is - the risk is the same.

"It doesn't matter what the content is - whoever they happen to represent or whether they are pleasant or unpleasant," said Dr Lower.

The Official Report health and safety manager, Mary Garland, said the research found reporters were sometimes turning up the sound to compensate for background noise in the room they were working in.

"We found that some people were listening to volumes which were too high," said Mr Garland. "There is not enough research at the moment to say: 'I guarantee you will damage your hearing' - but there is a possibility if you listen at high volumes all the time."