INCLUSION OF NOISE MONITORING BY MEANS OF PERSONAL DOSIMETRY IN REGULATION 7 OF THE NOISE INDUCED HEARING LOSS REGULATIONS
Title: Inclusion of noise monitoring by means of personal dosimetry in regulation 7 of the Noise Induced Hearing Loss Regulations
Government Gazette Notice: GN 889 in GG 41065 of 25 August 2017
Commencing date: 25 August 2017
The Noise-induced Hearing Loss Regulations were published in GG R307 in GG 24967 of 7 March 2003. In terms of regulation 7(2), an employer must ensure the following:
(a) that the measurement programme of noise exposure, in the case where a number of employees work in an area of approximately equal noise level, makes provision for the selection of not less than three locations that are representative of the positions occupied by employees well distributed over the area under investigation, and for the taking of measurements at each position as contemplated in SABS 083;
(b) that the measurement programme, in the case of an employee working at an approximately fixed location relative to the noise source, makes provision for the measurement to be taken at the approximate position of the person’s ear that receives the higher noise level as contemplated in SABS 083; and
(c) that representative measurements are carried out at least every 24 months: Provided that whenever the noise is at or above the noise-rating limit, the provisions of regulation 10(1) shall apply.
In this Notice the Minister of Labour includes noise monitoring by means of personal dosimetry for employees potentially exposed to noise at or above the noise rating limit, whom are neither working in an area of approximate equal noise level or fixed location to supplement the measures in regulation 7(2) with effect from the date of publication of this notice. Such personal dosimetry must be conducted as contemplated in SANS 10083.
So what for my operation?
The Noise-induced Hearing Loss Regulations prohibits an employer or self-employed person to require or permit any person to enter any workplace under his or her control where such person will be exposed to noise at or above the 85 dBA noise-rating limit, subject to certain exceptions (regulation 9 and 10). In order to ensure compliance to these Regulations, noise exposure limits must be measured on a continuous basis. In terms of this Notice, personal dosimetry, in line with SANS 10083 as a means of noise monitoring is specified.
