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 (1976-2004)

• Decreasing noise exposure levels…

Average Noise Levels* in High Risk Workplaces

84

83 83.4
82.4
Leq,8h, dBA

81.9 81.8
82
81.7

81

80
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004
Year
* 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
HEALTH
BEST
REDUCTION IN EXPOSURE
PRACTICES
Machine/Process >6dBA reduction AWARD
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