TUC: Big Ben headlines “don’t ring true”

16 Aug 2017 12:11 PM

The TUC yesterday (Tuesday) supported the decision to silence Big Ben during important restoration works.

TUC Health and Safety expert, Hugh Robertson chimed in:

“We know August is silly season, but today’s headlines just don’t ring true.

“When all 14 tonnes of Big Ben bongs near you, you’ll know it. At nearly 120 decibels, it’s like putting your ear next to a police siren.

“Protecting workers’ hearing is far from ‘health and safety gone mad’. It’s just plain common sense.”

Hugh is available for broadcast interview this afternoon. Just give the press office a bell (sorry) on 020 7467 1248.

Notes to Editors:

• Westminster’s bells are regularly silenced to be serviced, most recently ten years ago. They were even stopped for two years from 1983 – 1985.
• Hugh has blogged on this issue here: strongerunions.org/2017/08/15/big-ben-bong-bonkers/
• All TUC press releases can be found at tuc.org.uk/media
• TUC Press Office on Twitter: @tucnews
• Congress 2017 will be held in the Brighton Centre from Sunday 10 September to Wednesday 13 September. Free media passes can be obtained by visiting www.tuc.org.uk/Mediacredentials2017 and completing an online form. Applications must be in by noon on Tuesday 29 August. Any received later than that will be processed in Brighton and will cost £75.