Brussels, 19/04/2005 (Agence Europe) - “Stop that Noise", the slogan of a campaign in 30 countries launched on 20 April at the International Noise Awareness Day, for raising awareness about the risks linked to excessive noise in the workplace, such as hearing loss, stress or increased blood pressure. Therefore, as Commissioner Špidla explained to the press, “it is one of the most wide-spread industrial dangers and a serious problem in specific activities”. From 2006 new European rules will lower the limit of workers to a daily exposure of 87 decibels (90 decibels according to the 2003 “noise directive”) and compel employers to eliminate the risks or reduce them to a minimum. Mr Špidla said that it is estimated that more than 13 million workers, not only in heavy industry but also in sectors such as services, education (especially primary schools) and entertainment, are thought to have suffered impaired hearing at work, notably disc jockeys in bars and discos. The Commissioner explained that the maximum level was an orientation level for employers and the message they wanted to put across was that reducing noise in the workplace increased productivity. François Biltgen, the president of the Employment Council said that this campaign was putting a social Europe into practice as it brought more serenity and improved health and productivity in the workplace. Biltgen also launched an appeal for raising awareness among companies and social partners and for them to take a more pro-active approach. The director of the European Agency for Health and Safety at Work (Bilbao) Hans-Horst Konkolewsky informed the press that the campaign would close during the European Week on Health and Safety at Work on 24-28 October. Some figures were quoted indicating that in Germany, noise is the second major cause of spending on health; 29% of European workers are exposed to high noise levels during a quarter of their time at work; 20% of European workers have to raise their voices above the normal level of conversation to be heard during half the time they spend at work. (Info: http//ew2005.osha.eu.int).