HEARING CONSERVATION PROGRAMME SHEQ/OHS/PROCEDURE – 001 Compiled by: Jacobeth Ramailane Manager - Occupational Health Joe Ledile Tefu Approved by: General Manager - SHEQ HEARING CONSERVATION PROGRAMME 1. PURPOSE AND SCOPE To ensure effective control of the occupational noise exposure in line with applicable legal and other requirements, in order to prevent Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL). Noise is one of the most prevalent occupational hazards and despite all that is known about noise and its effect on health, NIHL remains one of the most commonly reported occupational diseases. Noise has auditory and non–auditory effects on the human body which affect safety and productivity in the workplace. This document is applicable to all City Power employees, contractors and relevant stakeholders, who may be exposed to occupational noise at or above 85dB (A) noise rating limit (8-hour rating level). Control of the exposure shall be regarded as adequate, only if the exposure is below the noise rating limit, or if the exposure is at or above the noise rating limit but the reason has been identified and action is taken as soon as is reasonably practicable, by means other than the use of hearing protective equipment (PPE should be the last resort), to lower exposure so that it does not exceed the noise rating limit. 2. DEFINITIONS AND ABBREVIATIONS ANIA Approved Noise Inspection Authority. Attenuation A reduction in the magnitude of sound transmitted. A graph, chart or table indicating the hearing threshold levels of an Audiogram individual produced during an audiometric test. Audiometric testing A test done to measure a person’s hearing threshold. A person who is registered with the Health Professions Council, trained and accredited to conduct an audiometric test, i.e. an ENT, Audiologist, Audiometrist Occupational Medical Practitioner or a person who has completed a course in Audiometric Techniques and registered with SASOHN i.e. Occupational Health Nurse Practitioner. Audiologist A graduate in speech therapy and audiology. An audiogram obtained prior to employment or within 30 days of engagement according to the requirements of Instruction 171( free from exposure to noise in excess of 80dB (A) for 16 hrs, audiograms should not Baseline Audiogram differ by more than 10dB (A) across 500 to 4000Hz ) and which will serve as a point of reference for future subsequent audiograms. If an employee has been exposed to noise at work previously then the first audiogram is not a baseline. Version Revision Approved Effective Date Doc No: SHEQ/OHS/PROCEDURE - 001 00 00 14 February 2013 01 March 2013 Compiled By: Manager: Occ. Health - Jacky Ramailane Approved By: GM: SHEQ - Joe Tefu Page no. Page 3 of 10 HEARING CONSERVATION PROGRAMME An audiogram performed by Audiologist or ENT specialist after the Diagnostic Audiogram employee has been away from noise exposure for a period of 24 hours and for the purposes of diagnosing the cause of hearing loss. Db Decibel. DoL Department of Labour. ENT Ear, Nose and Throat Specialist. Means audiometric testing performed at the conclusion of employment in a noise zone. The exit audiometry shall be preceded by a period of at least 16 hours noise free, the use of hearing protection devices during this Exit Audiometry period that comply with the attenuation requirements of the relevant SANS standard will not satisfy this requirement. The employee must be given a copy of this record when he/she leaves City Power. Hearing Protection Device – a device or a pair of devices worn or HPD inserted in the ears for protecting the hearing and which is approved by the South African National Standards. A well - organized meaningful hearing conservation program, accepted and endorsed by management, with a supporting company policy Hearing Conservation containing the following objectives: Program • The prevention of noise- induced hearing loss/ deafness; • Legal compliance; • A decrease in company expenditure for compensation in relation to noise-induced hearing loss/ deafness. A guideline set by the department of labour issued to clarify the position Instruction 171 in regard to claims for impairment of hearing. Noise Induced Hearing Loss – the hearing loss sustained due to prolonged NIHL exposure to noise levels at or above 85dB (A). For the purpose of this program it is exposure at the workplace that causes the hearing loss. An undesirable or physiologically impairing sound usually with a noise Noise level equivalent or above 85dB (A). Noise Zone A working environment where the noise level is at or above 85dB (A). OHS Act Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 of 1993. OHSAS Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series (Guideline). A mandatory testing performed on an annual basis or as prescribed by the Occupational Health Practitioner, on all employees exposed to noise levels that equal or exceed 85dB(A). The screening shall be preceded by Periodic Screening a period of at least 16 hours noise free, the use of hearing protection devices during this period that comply with the attenuation requirements of the relevant SANS standard will satisfy this requirement. Version Revision Approved Effective Date Doc No: SHEQ/OHS/PROCEDURE - 001 00 00 14 February 2013 01 March 2013 Compiled By: Manager: Occ. Health - Jacky Ramailane Approved By: GM: SHEQ - Joe Tefu Page no. Page 4 of 10 HEARING CONSERVATION PROGRAMME PLH Percentage Loss of Hearing. PPE Personal Protective Equipment. It’s a process which is aimed at determining any risk associated with any hazard and analyzing their likelihood and potential consequence in the Risk Assessment workplace, in order to identify the steps needed to be taken to remove, reduce or control such hazards. The systematic application of management policies, procedures, strategies and practices to the tasks of communicating, establishing the Risk Management content, identifying, analyzing, evaluating, treating, monitoring and reviewing risks in the working environment. S.A.N.S South African National Standards. SHEQ Safety Health Environment and Quality. TWA Time Weighted Average. 3. METHODS OF CONTROL 3.1 Risk Assessment • Noise surveys are conducted to determine the 8 hour rating level of the proposed working environment and in this way it is determined which employees are exposed to noise. • Noise surveys shall be conducted by an Approved Noise Inspection Authority (ANIA) accredited by the Department of Labour. Surveys are conducted whenever there is a change to the work process and/or every two years. • Any environment where the exposure to noise is at the noise rating-limit of 85 dB (A) shall be declared a noise zone and a hearing conservation programme implemented. • Noise zones shall be clearly demarcated using the relevant SANS standard for mandatory symbolic safety sign . The sign shall be placed in a conspicuous place at all entrances to and exits from the noise zone. • The sign shall be placed on portable equipment or machinery to inform users of the need to wear appropriate hearing protection devices. Below are examples of a mandatory symbolic safety sign used for demarcating noise zones; Version Revision Approved Effective Date Doc No: SHEQ/OHS/PROCEDURE - 001 00 00 14 February 2013 01 March 2013 Compiled By: Manager: Occ. Health - Jacky Ramailane Approved By: GM: SHEQ - Joe Tefu Page no. Page 5 of 10 HEARING CONSERVATION PROGRAMME 3.2 Risk Management A noise map shall be drawn indicating the various decibel levels of noise at the relevant departments within City Power. City Power shall take all practicable means to reduce the noise level to below 85dB (A) where a time weighted average at or above 85dB (A) is identified . 3.2.1 Eliminate Noise • Noise characteristics are to be conducted when ordering new equipment or machinery. • Preference is to be given to the purchasing of equipment/machinery with low noise levels. 3.2.2 Engineering Controls • All equipment and machinery identified as a noise source shall be serviced and maintained in a good condition at all times as per planned maintenance program. A worn out/faulty machine can cause noise. • Noisy machinery shall be enclosed, if practicable. • Machinery with air and steam leaks shall be immediately attended to and repaired. 3.2.3 Administrative Controls • Only workers who are required to work in a noise zone shall enter the noise zone. • All employees other than the machine operator shall maintain a safe distance from the noise source. • Where these are fitted doors and windows of moving machinery shall be closed, wherever possible to reduce the noise to the operator. • Machinery and vehicles shall be switched off when not in use to avoid unnecessary noise exposure. 3.2.4 Personal Protective Equipment • An appropriate and effective SANS approved hearing protective device (HPD) shall be provided by the employer, where noise levels cannot be reduced to below 85dB (A). • The employer shall ensure that the HPD has an appropriate attenuation or noise reduction rate (NRR) to reduce the effective exposure to below 80dB (A). • Wearing of hearing protection devices shall be compulsory for all employees who enter a noise zone irrespective of the time spent in the noise zone. • Wearing of hearing protection devices by employees in the noise zone shall be supervised and monitored by the employer or the designated representative. • Information and training should be given to the employees regarding the proper use and maintenance of the HPD issued to them, records of such training must be kept – refer to PPE Policy (SHEQ/OHS/PROCEDURE - 001). Version Revision Approved Effective Date Doc No: SHEQ/OHS/PROCEDURE - 001 00 00 14 February 2013 01 March 2013 Compiled By: Manager: Occ. Health - Jacky Ramailane Approved By: GM: SHEQ - Joe Tefu Page no. Page 6 of 10 HEARING CONSERVATION PROGRAMME 4. TRAINING, AWARENESS AND INDUCTION 4.1 Hearing conservation training shall be attended by all noise exposed employees and will be provided by a registered Audiometrist in the following instances: • During induction; • Prior to placement in a noise zone and annually thereafter; • After the diagnosis of NIHL.