It says in today's Daily Telegraph that soldiers are being told that under new health and safety guidelines they can only practice their bagpipes for 15 minutes a day if indoors (24 minutes permitted out of doors) because the sound levels reach that of a chainsaw or pneumatic drill. I suppose this refers to the Highland pipes, but uilleann pipes can be pretty loud and have the added risk of repetitive strain of the elbow. Any other health and safety issues we should worry about? (probably only applies to England where we love imposing daft health and safety restrictions)
Trying not to open this thread and check it out was like trying to drive past a traffic accident without looking. I am surprised the US government has not addressed this hideous threat yet!!!!! Never mind mad cows and bird flu, this is a REAL public health emergency in the making!!!
Definition of a gentleman: someone who can play the bagpipes, but doesn't.
Apparently, there can be a serious health issue with the highland pipes that is unrelated to the sound levels. It has been reported that serious lung diseases have been attributed to fungi and bacteria lurking in the bag and ingested by the player.
I've been accused of poking people in the eye with my sharp-tipped fiddle bow. Perhaps I should tie a little orange flag on the end, and set up a hazard sign when I'm playing.
You'll always be confronted by folk with delicate ears. If they can't deal with it, they can shove off. The colonel who wants a gold medal from one of his pipers will certainly allow him to practice for more than 24 minutes a day. But then again, what's a gold medal mean anyway when your real job is standing in the middle of a crossfire, which is to say, a civil war?
Well, of course....
fiddle-bow tips should be covered, ideally with a practice golf-ball, like those guys down at the pond with their radio-control gadget aerials....
there's no mention of any other military practises that might offer hearing damage, like firing heavy artillary, or worse, being at the receiving end....
there was a guy who used to practise the Great Pipes early mornings from the middle of Hampstead Heath.....got banned.....
it's not merely sound levels that are important, it's also frequencies, one wonders if they checked the hearing of long-time pipers, or just stood by with a general level meter without interpretation...
Local flute/fife player Skip Healy steps away from the mike when he plays his fife. Those things are piercing, especially when they go into that third octave!
And don't get me started on those bomard things, that look like an oboe mouthpiece on a recorder........bagpipes are not the only "in your face whether you like it or not" instrument!
Health and Safety with Bagpipes
Health and Safety with Bagpipes
It says in today's Daily Telegraph that soldiers are being told that under new health and safety guidelines they can only practice their bagpipes for 15 minutes a day if indoors (24 minutes permitted out of doors) because the sound levels reach that of a chainsaw or pneumatic drill. I suppose this refers to the Highland pipes, but uilleann pipes can be pretty loud and have the added risk of repetitive strain of the elbow. Any other health and safety issues we should worry about? (probably only applies to England where we love imposing daft health and safety restrictions)
# Posted on July 24th 2006 by RichardB
Re: Health and Safety with Bagpipes
Trying not to open this thread and check it out was like trying to drive past a traffic accident without looking. I am surprised the US government has not addressed this hideous threat yet!!!!! Never mind mad cows and bird flu, this is a REAL public health emergency in the making!!!
# Posted on July 24th 2006 by AlBrown
Re: Health and Safety with Bagpipes
I am always getting complaints that my PA and anglo are too loud. Should people carry out a Health & Safety risk assesment before sitting near me?
# Posted on July 24th 2006 by geoffwright
Re: Health and Safety with Bagpipes
If you play too quietly, people could hurt their backs leaning closer to listen.
# Posted on July 24th 2006 by cuchulain54
Re: Health and Safety with Bagpipes
Definition of a gentleman: someone who can play the bagpipes, but doesn't.
Apparently, there can be a serious health issue with the highland pipes that is unrelated to the sound levels. It has been reported that serious lung diseases have been attributed to fungi and bacteria lurking in the bag and ingested by the player.
# Posted on July 24th 2006 by lazyhound
Re: Health and Safety with Bagpipes
So clean the bag every month whether it needs it or not : ) And wear ear plugs.
What's the big deal?
# Posted on July 24th 2006 by Hanley
Re: Health and Safety with Bagpipes
something about if it doesn't make you deaf or kill you, you will, eventually become stronger and deaf
# Posted on July 25th 2006 by I_Fel
Re: Health and Safety with Bagpipes
I've been accused of poking people in the eye with my sharp-tipped fiddle bow. Perhaps I should tie a little orange flag on the end, and set up a hazard sign when I'm playing.
Also, I must stop sitting next to the piper!
# Posted on July 25th 2006 by treecipitation
Re: Health and Safety with Bagpipes
You'll always be confronted by folk with delicate ears. If they can't deal with it, they can shove off. The colonel who wants a gold medal from one of his pipers will certainly allow him to practice for more than 24 minutes a day. But then again, what's a gold medal mean anyway when your real job is standing in the middle of a crossfire, which is to say, a civil war?
# Posted on July 26th 2006 by bellows boy
Re: Health and Safety with Bagpipes
Fifes would definitely need a health warning. According to Wikepedia they can be heard 3 miles away through artillery fire.
# Posted on July 26th 2006 by RichardB
Re: Health and Safety with Bagpipes
Well, of course....
fiddle-bow tips should be covered, ideally with a practice golf-ball, like those guys down at the pond with their radio-control gadget aerials....
there's no mention of any other military practises that might offer hearing damage, like firing heavy artillary, or worse, being at the receiving end....
there was a guy who used to practise the Great Pipes early mornings from the middle of Hampstead Heath.....got banned.....
it's not merely sound levels that are important, it's also frequencies, one wonders if they checked the hearing of long-time pipers, or just stood by with a general level meter without interpretation...
# Posted on July 26th 2006 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Health and Safety with Bagpipes
Local flute/fife player Skip Healy steps away from the mike when he plays his fife. Those things are piercing, especially when they go into that third octave!
# Posted on July 26th 2006 by AlBrown
Re: Health and Safety with Bagpipes
And don't get me started on those bomard things, that look like an oboe mouthpiece on a recorder........bagpipes are not the only "in your face whether you like it or not" instrument!
# Posted on July 26th 2006 by AlBrown