Sign inShould authorities legally compel venues to provide hearing protection?
Initiatives such as the WHO's most recent Make Listening Safe campaign have their regional counterparts worldwide, including new tools such as a global standard for safe listening in video games and e-sports. But these initiatives to educate young people and the public on safe listening habits are not considered by everyone to be enough. Should music venues be obliged to do more?
Neumos, a well-known local music venue on Capitol Hill, Seattle, Washington.
© Getty Images - carterdayne
Seattle, in the state of Washington, USA, has produced a long list of live music acts, including Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Soundgarden, and Alice In Chains, none of whom could be called quiet parlour groups. But who does the onus fall on to protect concertgoers from the intensity of sound above 85 decibels that has the potential to cause damage, normally either hearing loss or tinnitus?
A Seattle city councillor, ironically named Strauss, Dan by first name, thinks the responsibility for protecting the punters lies with the venue, and he has drafted a hearing protection ordinance that would mean venues being fined if they do not provide ear plugs at a price under $1 (free is an option).
The proposed regulation has stirred up opinions for and against in Seattle, with strong voices against perhaps persuading Strauss, says the Seattle Times, to consider waltzing to the less rigorous measure of an education campaign, probably ...
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