2. Kia Tang TAN
Deputy Director (Hygiene)
Dr Magdalene O Y CHAN
Director
Occupational Health Department
Occupational Safety and Health Division
Ministry of Manpower, Singapore
3. Industrialisation -
Noise Pollution: attendant “necessary evil”?
Progressive transformation over 40 years…
From entrepot trade to manufacturing…
Now increasingly supported by information technology
Over 68,800 workers are exposed to noise in Singapore
4. Changing Industry Profile, Improving Trends
Average Noise Levels* in High Risk Workplaces
81.7
81.9 81.8
82.4
83.4
80
81
82
83
84
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004
Year
L
eq,8h
,
dBA
* 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.
• 8-fold decline in incidence of NID (1976-2004)
• Decreasing noise exposure levels…
5. No Single Solution …
• Regulatory mechanism
• Training, information & guidance
• Incentives
• Engineering & technological innovations
6. Hearing Conservation On Wheels …
Raising Awareness
Mobile Audiometric Testing Facility…
1976-1983
7. Regulatory Framework
Factories (Medical Examinations) Regulations
Factories Act
• Effective means to reduce noise
• Hearing protectors
• Pre-employment & annual examinations
• Audiometry
• Designated Factory Doctor
8. Regulatory Framework
Factories (Noise) Regulations
Permissible exposure limits
Noise Control measures
Competent persons for noise
monitoring & noise control
9. Regulations Relating to
Environmental Noise Limits
Public Health (Boundary Noise Limits for
Factory Premises) Regulations
Environmental Pollution Control (Control of
Noise at Construction Sites) Regulations
Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources
12. 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
13. 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
14. >6dBA reduction
• Entire Premises <85dBA
• Entire Premises < 90 dBA
• Hearing Conservation Programme
REDUCTION IN EXPOSURE
Machine/Process
Entire Premises
OCCUPATIONAL
HEALTH
BEST
PRACTICES
AWARD
Incentives For Action …
15. 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
16. Training of Competent Persons
Noise monitoring
Noise control
Noise emission and labelling
Audiometric screening
Monitoring Facilities
& Practice Standards
Raising Awareness, Building Capabilities…
