Town of Coaldale needs to revise its noise bylaw for resident safety
By Lethbridge Herald on June 9, 2023.
Editor:
Every power plant that I worked for the past 25 years I had to protect my ears from machinery noises in the background – boilers, turbines, feedwater pumps, diesel generators, Cummins standby power, and many more equipment in the plant. Before one can work in the power plants, they must follow rules and regulations.
Wear ear plugs and earmuffs when making rounds every hour taking readings of the various equipment in operation. I also had to wear a hard hat and safety shoes. While spending many hours on shift one can hear the high-pitched noises and know when something goes wrong.
Horst and I worked 12-hour shifts for six months without days off. One day he said that we change shifts so he asked that I work 18 hours to switch from his day shift to my night shift so that he can take over the 12- hour night shift. The mining company broke the labour laws, not intentionally, but due to shortage of power engineers that left them no choice.
We live in a neighbourhood where daily loud noises are rampant due to speakers in a car that are turned up full blast. While sitting in our living room the windows rattle and dishes in the kitchen shake.
I do not believe the driver or the passenger of the car wear earplugs.
I strongly recommend that safety comes first before one gets old to prevent deafness. I am hoping that our town council will revise the noise by-law.
Paul Jones
Coaldale
10-9
The story of your work is interesting it has nothing to do with your complaint. Your employer has a legal requirement to keep you safe no such requirement exists in this situation. If this person’s car stereo disturbs you you have every right to complain and I urge you to do so. But if you want the state to babysit everyone that’s a hole that is bottomless.