Mine Health and Safety Act, 1996 (Act No. 29 of 1996)Guideline for a Mandatory Code of PracticeOccupational Health Programme (Occupational Hygiene and Medical Surveillance) for NoisePart A. The Guideline5. Scope |
| 5.1 | This guideline covers a basic occupational health programme to assist in protecting employees from occupational NIHL. It further provides for the measurement of occupational exposures to noise and the linking of these exposures to employee medical records. |
| 5.2 | By virtue of regulations 9.2(1) and 9.2(2) of the MHSA, the employer is required to: |
| 5.2.1 | Ensure that occupational exposure to noise is maintained below the OEL. |
| 5.2.2 | Establish and maintain a system of occupational hygiene measurements, as contemplated in section 12 of the MHSA, of all working places where the noise exposure level ≥82 dB LAeq, 8h. |
| 5.3 | This guideline will assist the employer to comply with these statutory requirements. |
| 5.4 | This guideline will also assist the employer in covering, in the COP: |
| 5.4.1 | A noise monitoring programme component of the hearing conservation programme (from ≥82 dB LAeq, 8h). |
| 5.4.2 | A formal hearing conservation programme which includes medical surveillance (≥85 dB LAeq, 8h). |