1_ Noise Induced Deafness Prevention Programme & Sharing of Enforcement Results(1).pdf

A Great Workforce A Great Workplace

© 2010 Government of Singapore 1


Ng Zhihan Occupational Hygiene Branch

OSH Specialist Department Ministry of Manpower

Management of Noise Hazards at Workplace



Workplace Health (WH) Strategies



Targeted Intervention Programme

Noise Induced Deafness Prevention Programme

Management of Hazardous Chemicals Programme

Confined Space Management Programme

National Asbestos Control Programme



Scope • Effects of Exposure to Excessive Noise

• Overview of Noise Induced Deafness Prevention Programme (NIDPP)

• Hearing Conservation Programme Guidelines (HCP)

• MOM Engagement and Enforcement

• NIDPP Future Plans



Effects of Noise 1. Annoyance / irritation

2. Interference / disturbance

3. Exposure to Excessive Noise can lead to Hearing loss or NID

– sound pressure level

– exposure duration

– frequency

– susceptibility



Noise Induced Deafness • Damage to nerve cells

– Prolonged exposure to loud noise

• Early stage – Might not be able to hear as clearly

– Affects way of life

• Late stage – Hearing ability severely affected

– No known cure

• Prevention is the only remedy

Video-NIDPP/The Personal Effects of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss Trimed.avi

Video-NIDPP/NIDPP.wmv



NID Stats

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500 1

97

4

19

75

19

76

19

77

19

78

19

79

19

80

19

81

19

82

19

83

19

84

19

85

19

86

19

87

19

88

19

89

19

90

19

91

19

92

19

93

19

94

19

95

19

96

19

97

19

98

19

99

20

00

20

01

20

02

20

03

20

04

20

05

20

06

20

07

20

08

20

09

20

10

20

11

Year

Total ODs NID Occ Skin Disease



Audiometry Stats

0

20000

40000

60000

80000

100000

120000

1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Number of workers under medical surveillance by year



NIDPP – Strategies

1. Developing and Prescribing Appropriate Standards

2. Providing Compliance Assistance

3. Deepening Capabilities to Monitor and Control Hazards

4. Educating and Engaging Employees

5. Targeted Enforcement



Indicators for NIDPP

1. 95% of workplaces inspected have implemented HCP

2. 20% reduction in NID



Our Journey

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Developing

Standards

Compliance

assistance

Educating

employees

Deepening

capabilities

Targeted

Enforcement

Reviewed, Finalized and Introduced the WSH (Noise) Regs

•NIDPP Educational Posters

•Revised HCP

•TA for work in noisy environment

•Compliance assistance checklist

•‘Music to my ears’ - Launch of NIDPP

as national OH programme

•Technical Seminar for HCP

implementation for workplaces

•Dormitory road shows

•MOM internal training and capability

building

•WiNE Probe for 200 workplaces in the

metalworking, shipbuilding /ship-

repairing and construction sectors

•Fact sheet on

‘Noise Control in

Entertainment

Outlets’

•Metal working

forum (present)

•Landscape safety

(present)

•Common Noise

controls (bulletin)

•Worker’s

newsletters (article)

•Review NMO and

NCO course

•66 workplaces ID

with high noise

•Noise Survey (300

companies replied

with self

assessment)

•HCP guidelines for

Workplace Health

Kit for metal

working industries.

•Managing Noise

Risks for the

Entertainment

Industry

•WSHC’s outreach

platforms

•Research into

control measures

for common noisy

processes

•Pilot trial utilizing

CPs on 350 WPs

with potential noise

hazards

•Review HCP

Guidelines to align

with new regs

•NIDPP Webpage

on iWSH portal

•Technical seminar

in collaboration with

WSH Council

•Introduce changes

to new regulations

•Review 5 years of

NIDPP

•Noise controls for

industries invited

•Follow up on

previous screening

•Screening another

300 WPs for potential

noise hazards

utilizing CPs



Hearing Conservation Programme Guidelines (2012)

Noise Monitoring

Noise Control

Hearing Protectors

Training & Education

Audiometric Examination



Legal Requirements

• WSH(Noise) Regulations 1st September 2011

• All workplaces are to

– Identify their noise hazards

– Control noise at workplace if noise is above PEL

– Provide hearing protectors as an interim measure

– Training for workers to understand the hazards they are exposed to

• WSH (Medical Examinations) Regulations

– Audiometric Examinations for all affected workers



What is Excessive Noise? • Noise Regulation 2(2)

– A person shall be deemed to be exposed to excessive noise where the noise he would be exposed to, if he was not wearing any hearing protector, exceeds equivalent sound pressure level of 85 dB(A) over an 8-hour workday (PEL)



Permissible Exposure Limit

Sound Pressure Level (dBA) Maximum Duration (hrs)

82 16

83 12 ¾

85 8

88 4

91 2

94 1

97 ½

100 ¼

103 7 ½ mins

106 4 mins

109 2 mins

112 <1 min

120-140 <10 sec

No exposure to above 140 dB is allowed Factories (Noise) Regulations, First Schedule

Exchange Rate = 3dB



HCP Element 1 Identification of Noise Hazard and

Evaluating Risk

Noise Monitoring

Noise Control

Hearing Protectors





Identification of Noise Hazards • Ascertain if there is presence of excessive noise at

the workplace – Qualitative Identification (Checklist / Site visits) – Quantitative Identification (Noise Monitoring)

• Conduct Risk Assessment, based on identification

results, and evaluate the risk involved

• If more than 10 workers are likely to be exposed to excessive noise, the company must conduct noise monitoring and submit the results to Commissioner, OSHD – once every 3 years – any change in conditions



New Noise Monitoring Report Guidelines • Annex B of Hearing Conservation Programme

Guidelines (2012)

• A quick summary of the changes – Move from area-based monitoring to combination of

area and personal monitoring – Noise Monitoring Officers will conduct a HCP

implementation check and include in the Noise Monitoring Report

• Benefits

– Occupiers knows the gaps in HCP implementation and how to rectify them

– Align report requirements for easier e-submission



HCP Element 2 Noise Control

Noise Monitoring

Noise Control

Hearing Protectors





Noise Control • Based on Noise Monitoring Report

– Prioritize control based on evaluated risk – Implement practicable measures to control noise

• Controls can be done:

– At Source – Along the Pathway – At Receiver

• Hierarchy of Control – Substitution – Engineering Control – Administrative Control – Personal Protective Equipment



Noise Control • Workplaces with noise issues can appoint a

Noise Control Officer

– Provides sustainable long term and short term noise control plans

– Mandatory for workplaces for more than 50 workers exposed

• CP 99 (2003) : CP for Industrial Noise Control



Noise Control Plans • Endorsed by management

• Based on SMART Objectives

Specific

Measure

Achieve Realistic

Time



Noise Control Plans • Some good practices

– Consider noise emission levels during selection / procurement of machines

– Involve employees exposed to noise hazards in the development of control measure

– Perform noise monitoring to evaluate control measures post-implementation

– Establish maintenance programme to ensure noise control measures remain effective

– Communicate proper use of the noise control measures to employees



HCP Element 3 Hearing Protectors

Noise Monitoring

Noise Control

Hearing Protectors





Hearing Protectors • Employers must provide employees working in

noisy environment with hearing protectors

• Serves as interim measure while implementing engineering or administrative controls

• Employers must also ensure that hearing protectors are issued, used and maintained.

• SS549:2009 : Selection, Use, Care and Maintenance of Hearing Protectors



Hearing Protectors

Levels ≤ 100 dBA

Levels ≥ 100 dBA



Warning Signs

• Post signs at all entrances to or at the periphery of all noisy area

• Serves as a constant reminder for workers to put on hearing protectors



HCP Element 4 Training and Education

Noise Monitoring

Noise Control

Hearing Protectors





Training and Education • Aim to increase awareness of noise hazard,

and need for hearing protection

• Training must be conducted for all exposed persons at least once every 12 months

• For new employees, within 3 months of employment



Topics for Training • Topics for training shall include :

– Provisions of the Act and Regulations

– Effects of noise on hearing

– Purpose of hearing protectors & their selection, fitting & care

– Purpose & procedures of hearing test



HCP Element 5 Audiometric Examination

Noise Monitoring

Noise Control

Hearing Protectors





Audiometric Examinations • Help detect early signs of hearing loss

• Audiometric examinations must be conducted

– within 3 months of commencement of work (for new employees)

– annually for all workers exposed to excessive noise

• Must be conducted by a Designated Workplace Doctor

• Employees should not be exposed to loud noise for at least

16 hours before the audiometric examination.

• NID is a reportable occupational disease. All cases of NID must be reported via iReport.

• Results must be communicated to employees



IN-PLANT HEARING CONSERVATION

PROGRAMME



Recent Enforcement Activities • 717 workplaces assessed over the past 3 years

– Screening Exercise 2010 & 2012

– Operations Canary 2011

• Workplaces assessed for compliance to Hearing Conservation Programme (HCP)

• Industries Selected – Metalworking

– Marine

– Manufacturer of Chemicals



Key Elements of in-plant HCP

1 Noise Monitoring must be conducted once every 3 years if more than 10 workers are exposed to excessive noise

2

Noise Control Officer must be appointed to advise on Noise Control solutions if more than 50 workers are exposed to excessive noise

3 PPE must be provided and used during the interim

4 Workers are warned of the hazards involved and the precautionary measures to be taken via training

5 Workers undergo annual audiometric examinations



Results of Enforcement – Overall

7% 4%

89%

Screening Exercise

Full Compliance Zero Compliance

Partial Compliance

74%

0%

26%

Operations Canary

Full Compliance Zero Compliance

Partial Compliance



Results of Enforcement – Breakdown by industry

100%

0% 0%

Operations Canary (Chemicals)

63% 0%

37%

Operations Canary (Metalworking)

62% 0%

38%

Operations Canary (Marine)

61% 9%

30%

Screening Exercises (Chemicals)

33%

2% 65%

Screening Exercises (Metalworking)

26% 0%

74%

Screening Exercises (Marine)



Overall Compliance to HCP Elements

87%

47% 47% 42%

26%

Provides PPE Audiometric Examination

Worker's Training Noise Monitoring Report

Noise Control Officer

Complied Not Complied



Summary of Enforcement Exercise • Noise can be better managed at workplaces

– Less than half implements the full hearing conservation programme

– 75% of workplaces do not have a NCO to provide noise control solutions

– 58% of workplaces do not regularly monitor their noise levels

– 53% of workplaces do not send their workers for audiometric examinations which helps detect early NID

– 90% of workplaces rely on PPE to control noise exposures to workers



Way Forward • Gazette CP 99 as Approved Code of Practice

• Enlarge the number of workplaces placed under surveillance

• Extend enforcement efforts

• Labelling of noisy machines

• Identify best practices in noise controls

• All noisy workplaces to implement RM and full HCP



Useful Resources • Ministry of Manpower Website (rec & inno

scheme) – www.mom.gov.sg – Search for “Noise Regulations” – Search for “Tax Incentives Scheme for Noise Control”

• WSH Council’s NID webpage

– http://www.wshc.sg/nid

• Singapore Standards e-shop – http://www.singaporestandardseshop.sg/Product/Ho

me.aspx – Search for “SS549” – Search for “CP99”

http://www.mom.gov.sg/

http://www.wshc.sg/nid

http://www.singaporestandardseshop.sg/Product/Home.aspx

http://www.singaporestandardseshop.sg/Product/Home.aspx



Documents

1_ Noise Induced Deafness Prevention Programme & Sharing of Enforcement Results(1).pdf