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For Immediate Release
June 17, 2010
The Canadian Hearing Society cautions Toronto Police Services about
the use of Long Range Acoustic Devices at the G20
Toronto, ON (June 11, 2010) - Chief of Police Bill Blair reported on the
acquisition of Long Range Acoustic Devices (LRAD) at the Toronto Police
Services Board special public meeting today at 2:00.
Blair asserts that Toronto Police Services (TPS) intends to use the
LRADs as communication devices only, for the purpose of making
announcements, providing instructions or informing a large crowd, at a
distance of 75 meters from any personnel; and that they are not intended
to be used as a force option. At the same time Blair reports that TPS
is not disarming the alarm function of the devices and should an
emergent situation arise and only under the orders of the Toronto
Incident Commander the devices may emit a sound burst, Blair reports,
not to exceed five seconds, at an intensity maximum of 96 decibels that
is “well below the level where damage to hearing can occur”.
The Canadian Hearing Society cautions TPS about the use of the LRADs in two regards.
As a communication device:
The significantly low frequency sound energy of speech may be extremely
intense at the level of the speaker’s ear and those in close range
because of the lack of directionality of the lower frequencies. There
is a very real risk of hearing loss for the operator and others situated
behind the device.
As a force option:
CHS does not support the use of any force option that could cause permanent hearing loss.
Blair contends that the alert function of the device emits a sound burst
of 96 decibels. If this is a valid statement, it is doubtful whether
the device would even be audible at 75 meters amongst the noise of the
crowd. A level of 96 decibels is slightly louder than a dial tone, and
about the intensity of quiet jazz. Quiet jazz for even an hour would
not be damaging. CHS suspects that the figure of 96 decibels is
erroneous. If the true sound level was in excess of 110 decibels
(A-weighted), as is more likely, then exposure for less than about 8
minutes would yield the maximum weekly dose of noise exposure. This
means that workers in the crowd who are exposed to daily vocational
noise should be taking several days off work. In addition, the long
term effects of intense, short blasts are simply not fully understood.
The Canadian Hearing Society asks that Toronto Police Services
reconsider the use of the LRADs at the G20 Summit, as the devices have
the potential to pose a significant risk to the public’s and TPS
personnel’s hearing.
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Contact:
Kelly MacKenzie
The Canadian Hearing Society
416 928 2500 ext 231
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 Press Release June 17, 2010 - CHS Cautions Toronto Police Services
Press Release Backgrounder - June 17, 2010
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