Sir, Congratulations to Reg Little on his feature A Hearing at last (May 12). Having worked in the Pressed Steel plant from 1950 to 1964, I experienced the serious noise problem and like many others, now suffer tinnitus.

When I was appointed to be the TGWU district secretary for Oxfordshire, one of my first tasks was to request a meeting with senior management at the plant in an endeavour to get noise levels reduced and a reduction in the amount of molten lead being used on Rolls-Royce car bodies, used mostly to cover design faults.

Many of those workers suffered from lead poisoning. I was told nothing could be done to reduce the amount of lead, because Rolls-Royce would not allow it.

In regard to the noise problem, I soon discovered that the management were more concerned with achieving production targets than caring for the well-being of their employees. I was told that if I pressed the matter of noise reduction, the plant could very well be closed down. All they offered were ear plugs for anyone who requested them.

When I reported to a shop stewards' meeting the company's poor response to my request, a minority wanted to call their bluff. The majority were not however prepared to risk the plant closing. The rest, as they say, is history.

A visit to the plant these days presents a much improved situation with very little noise such as we suffered. For instance, no air-powered tools are allowed a major cause of high noise levels. The interesting point is that the people working on the lines are no different to those in the 1950s and 1960s. The big difference now is a much better working environment due to substantial investment and a management who know how to make a plant successful, and show concern for their employees' welfare. No wonder the plant nowadays is successful.

David Buckle, Radley