Cirrus Research plc will be providing noise measuring equipment to East Riding Council for workers at the recently-refurbished Spa in Bridlington in a bid to determine the level of protection needed for staff and artists.

The council's safety office Richard Irvine said: "We want to ensure that The Spa is not only the region's premier entertainment venue, but also a safe environment to work in. Cirrus doseBadge personal noise dosemeters will be issued to our ground and barstaff during performances over the next few weeks to effectively determine the noise protection we will be providing."

James Tingay of Cirrus research said working in noisy environments could cause permanent hearing damage, tinnitis and insomnia, as well as several personality disorders.

But he said by using noise measurement equipment as part of health and safety checks employers could ensure staff were protected from the dangers of excessive noise and provide hearing protection where appropriate.