Noise Pollution

Industrial Noise Control – the Singapore Experience

Kia Tang TAN Deputy Director (Hygiene) Dr Magdalene O Y CHAN Director

Occupational Health Department Occupational Safety and Health Division Ministry of Manpower, Singapore

Industrialisation Noise Pollution: attendant “necessary evil”? Over 68,800 workers are exposed to noise in Singapore Progressive transformation over 40 years… From entrepot trade to manufacturing… Now increasingly supported by information technology

Changing Industry Profile, Improving Trends •

8-fold decline in incidence of NID (19762004) • Decreasing noise exposure levels…

Leq,8h, dBA

84 83

Average Noise Levels* in High Risk Workplaces

83.4

82.4 81.9

82

81.8 81.7

81 80 2000

2001

2002 Year

2003

2004

* 8-hr equivalent noise levels averaged over a 3-year period, e.g. for 2004, the noise level is averaged over 2002, 2003 and 2004. Based on results of noise monitoring conducted every 3 years as required under the Factories (Noise) Regulations.

No Single Solution … • Regulatory mechanism • Training, information & guidance • Incentives • Engineering & technological innovations

Raising Awareness Hearing Conservation On Wheels …

Mobile Audiometric Testing Facility… 1976-1983

Regulatory Framework

Factories Act • Effective means to reduce noise • Hearing protectors Factories (Medical Examinations) Regulations

• Pre-employment & annual examinations • Audiometry

• Designated Factory Doctor

Regulatory Framework

Factories (Noise) Regulations Permissible exposure limits Noise Control measures Competent persons for noise monitoring & noise control

Regulations Relating to Environmental Noise Limits

Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources

Public Health (Boundary Noise Limits for Factory Premises) Regulations Environmental Pollution Control (Control of Noise at Construction Sites) Regulations

Codes of Practice

Selection, Use, Care and Maintenance of Hearing Protectors Industrial Noise Control

Codes of Practice

Noise Control on Construction and Demolition Sites

Surveillance and Enforcement Activities

Checks at factory registration stage High risk workplaces targetted Focus on noise labelling, noise control, assessment reports and control planning National exposure database

Incentives For Action …

Tax Incentive Scheme One-year accelerated depreciation allowance Low-decibel new machinery or Installation of noise control equipment Noise level at or below 82 dBA

Incentives For Action … OCCUPATIONAL

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH HEALTH BEST BEST PRACTICES REDUCTION IN EXPOSURE PRACTICES Machine/Process AWARD AWARD Machine/Process >6dBA reduction Entire Premises

Entire Premises

• Entire Premises < 90 dBA

• Hearing Conservation Programme

• Entire Premises <85dBA

Raising Awareness, Building Capabilities… Information & Guidance Guidelines on Industrial Noise & Vibration Control Guidelines on an Effective Hearing Conservation Programme Guidelines on Noise Labelling Fact Sheet on Noise-induced Deafness Fact Sheet on the Factories (Noise) Regulations 1996

Raising Awareness, Building Capabilities… Training of Competent Persons Noise monitoring Noise control Noise emission and labelling Audiometric screening

Monitoring Facilities & Practice Standards

Raising Awareness, Building Capabilities… Promotional Activities Reaching out to industry Collaborative projects on Hearing Conservation

Sharing Best Practices Learning from Success Stories…

Global Web Portal

Meeting the Challenge Multi-pronged Approach Proactive Strategy Leveraging Partnerships Focussed Efforts