Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1993 (Act No. 85 of 1993)RegulationsNoise Exposure Regulations, 20244. Information, instruction and training |
| (1) | An employer who undertakes work which exposes an employee to noise must consult the relevant health and safety representative or the health and safety committee established for that workplace and inform them of the intention to conduct— |
| (a) | a noise exposure risk assessment; |
| (b) | noise exposure monitoring; and |
| (c) | training contemplated in subregulation (4). |
| (2) | An employer who undertakes work which exposes an employee to noise at or above either the noise-rating limit or the noise action level where there is concomitant exposure to ototoxic chemical agents and/or whole-body vibration must inform the relevant health and safety representative or the health and safety committee established for that workplace of the intention to conduct medical screening and medical surveillance. |
| (3) | An employer must inform the relevant health and safety representative or the health and safety committee for that workplace of the documented outcomes of the— |
| (a) | noise exposure risk assessment; |
| (b) | noise exposure monitoring; and |
| (c) | medical screening and medical surveillance. |
| (4) | Every employer who undertakes work which is likely to expose an employee to noise must, before any exposure, ensure that such employee is comprehensively informed, instructed and trained in both the practical aspects and theoretical knowledge with regard to— |
| (a) | the content and scope of these Regulations; |
| (b) | the potential sources of exposure to noise; |
| (c) | ototoxic chemical agents and whole-body vibration acting synergistically with noise to cause hearing loss; |
| (d) | the potential risks to health and safety caused by exposure to noise; |
| (e) | the differing effects of exposure to noise on men, women, young employees and vulnerable employees, where such difference may exist; |
| (f) | the control measures that are in place to prevent exposure to noise; |
| (g) | the necessity for compliance with noise control measures in all areas, including the correct inspection, use, care, maintenance, limitations and disposal of HPDs; |
| (h) | the precautions to be taken by an employee to protect themselves against the adverse effects associated with the exposure; |
| (i) | the reason for and the outcomes of the noise exposure risk assessment, noise exposure monitoring and the necessity for medical screening and medical surveillance; |
| (j) | the noise action level and noise-rating limit for hearing conservation and their meaning; |
| (k) | the procedures for reporting, correcting and replacing defective noise control measures, including HPDs; |
| (l) | any additional matters contemplated in regulations 5 and 9; and |
| (m) | the process to access records of noise exposure risk assessment, noise exposure monitoring and personal medical records. |
| (5) | The employer must ensure that refresher training is conducted at least annually or at more frequent intervals as may be recommended by the health and safety committee or the health and safety representative. |
| (6) | An employer or self-employed person must ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, that mandataries or persons other than employees who may be affected by noise exposure at the workplace are informed and trained in accordance with subregulation (4). |
| (7) | The training programme contemplated in subregulation (4), (5) and (6) must be conducted by a competent person. |