Industrial Noise Control – the Singapore Experience Industrial Noise Control – the Singapore Experience the Singapore Experience the Singapore Experience
Jan 18, 2016
Industrial Noise Control –
the Singapore Experience
Industrial Noise Control –
the Singapore Experience
Industrial Noise Control –
the Singapore Experience
Industrial Noise Control –
the Singapore Experience
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 SingaporeOver 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
Average Noise Levels* in High Risk Workplaces
81.7
81.9 81.8
82.483.4
80
81
82
83
84
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004Year
L eq,
8h, d
BA
* 8-hr equivalent noise levels averaged over a 3-year period, e.g. for 2004, the noise level isaveraged 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…
Average Noise Levels* in High Risk Workplaces
81.7
81.9 81.8
82.483.4
80
81
82
83
84
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004Year
L eq,
8h, d
BA
* 8-hr equivalent noise levels averaged over a 3-year period, e.g. for 2004, the noise level isaveraged 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 …No Single Solution …
• Regulatory mechanism• Training, information & guidance• Incentives• Engineering & technological innovations
• Regulatory mechanism• Training, information & guidance• Incentives• Engineering & technological innovations
Hearing Conservation On Wheels …
Raising Awareness
Mobile Audiometric Testing Facility…1976-1983
Regulatory Framework
Factories ActFactories Act• Effective means to reduce noise• Hearing protectors
Factories (Medical Examinations) RegulationsFactories (Medical Examinations) Regulations
• Effective means to reduce noise• Hearing protectors
• Pre-employment & annual examinations• Audiometry• Designated Factory Doctor
• Pre-employment & annual examinations• Audiometry• Designated Factory Doctor
Regulatory Framework
Factories (Noise) RegulationsFactories (Noise) Regulations
Permissible exposure limits
Noise Control measures
Competent persons for noisemonitoring & noise control
Permissible exposure limits
Noise Control measures
Competent persons for noisemonitoring & noise control
Regulations Relating toEnvironmental Noise Limits
Public Health (Boundary Noise Limits forFactory Premises) RegulationsPublic Health (Boundary Noise Limits forFactory Premises) Regulations
Ministry of the Environment and Water ResourcesMinistry of the Environment and Water Resources
Public Health (Boundary Noise Limits forFactory Premises) RegulationsPublic Health (Boundary Noise Limits forFactory Premises) Regulations
Environmental Pollution Control (Control ofNoise at Construction Sites) RegulationsEnvironmental Pollution Control (Control ofNoise at Construction Sites) Regulations
Codes of Practice
Selection, Use, Care andMaintenance of HearingProtectors
Selection, Use, Care andMaintenance of HearingProtectors
Industrial Noise ControlIndustrial Noise Control
Selection, Use, Care andMaintenance of HearingProtectors
Selection, Use, Care andMaintenance of HearingProtectors
Codes of Practice
Noise Control onConstruction andDemolition Sites
Noise Control onConstruction andDemolition Sites
Noise Control onConstruction andDemolition Sites
Noise Control onConstruction andDemolition 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
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 SchemeTax Incentive Scheme
One-year accelerated depreciation allowanceOne-year accelerated depreciation allowance
Low-decibel new machinery orLow-decibel new machinery orLow-decibel new machinery orLow-decibel new machinery or
Installation of noise control equipmentInstallation of noise control equipment
Noise level at or below 82 dBANoise level at or below 82 dBA
>6dBA reduction
REDUCTION IN EXPOSUREREDUCTION IN EXPOSURE
Machine/ProcessMachine/Process
OCCUPATIONALOCCUPATIONALHEALTHHEALTH
BESTBESTPRACTICESPRACTICES
AWARDAWARD
Incentives For Action …
• Entire Premises <85dBA
• Entire Premises < 90 dBA• Hearing Conservation Programme
Entire Premises
OCCUPATIONALOCCUPATIONALHEALTHHEALTH
BESTBESTPRACTICESPRACTICES
AWARDAWARD
Raising Awareness, Building Capabilities…
Information & GuidanceInformation & Guidance
Guidelines on Industrial Noise & Vibration Control
Guidelines on an Effective Hearing ConservationProgramme
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 ConservationProgramme
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 ConservationProgramme
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 ConservationProgramme
Guidelines on Noise Labelling
Fact Sheet on Noise-induced Deafness
Fact Sheet on the Factories (Noise) Regulations 1996
Training of Competent PersonsTraining of Competent Persons
Noise monitoring
Noise control
Noise emission and labelling
Audiometric screening
Noise monitoring
Noise control
Noise emission and labelling
Audiometric screening
Raising Awareness, Building Capabilities…
Noise monitoring
Noise control
Noise emission and labelling
Audiometric screening
Noise monitoring
Noise control
Noise emission and labelling
Audiometric screening
Monitoring Facilities& Practice StandardsMonitoring Facilities& Practice Standards
Promotional ActivitiesPromotional Activities
Reaching out to industryReaching out to industry
Raising Awareness, Building Capabilities…
Reaching out to industry
Collaborative projects onHearing ConservationCollaborative projects onHearing Conservation
Sharing Best Practices
Learning from Success Stories…Learning from Success Stories…
Global Web PortalGlobal Web Portal
Meeting the ChallengeMeeting the Challenge
Multi-pronged ApproachMulti-pronged Approach
Proactive StrategyProactive StrategyProactive StrategyProactive Strategy
Focussed EffortsFocussed Efforts
Leveraging PartnershipsLeveraging Partnerships