1. Industrial Noise Control – the Singapore Experience

2. Kia Tang TAN Deputy Director (Hygiene) Dr Magdalene O Y CHAN Director 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”? 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 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 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

10. Codes of Practice Industrial Noise Control Selection, Use, Care and Maintenance of Hearing Protectors

11. Codes of Practice Noise Control on Construction and Demolition Sites

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 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 Noise monitoring Noise control Noise emission and labelling Audiometric screening Monitoring Facilities & Practice Standards Raising Awareness, Building Capabilities…

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

18. Sharing Best Practices Global Web Portal Learning from Success Stories…

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