Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1993 (Act No. 85 of 1993)RegulationsNoise-induced Hearing Loss Regulations, 20034. Information and training |
| 1) | An employer shall, after consultation with the health and safety committee established in respect of a workplace under his or her control and the health and safety representative designated for that workplace or for different sections thereof, establish for all employees who may be exposed to noise at or above the noise-rating limit a training programme that incorporates the following – |
| a) | The content and scope of these regulations; |
| b) | the potential sources of exposure to noise; |
| c) | the potential risks to health and safety caused by exposure to noise; |
| d) | the measures taken by the employer to protect an employee against the detrimental effects of exposure to noise; |
| e) | the precautions to be taken by the employees to protect themselves against the health risks associated with the exposure, including the wearing and use of earplugs and earmuffs; |
| f) | the necessity, correct use, maintenance and limitations of hearing protectors, facilities and engineering control measures provided; |
| g) | the assessment of exposure, the purpose of noise monitoring; the necessity for medical surveillance and the long-term benefits and limitations of undergoing such surveillance; |
| h) | the noise-rating limit for hearing conservation and its meaning; |
| i) | the procedures for reporting, correcting and replacing defective personal hearing protectors and for engineering noise control measures; and |
| j) | the matters contemplated in regulation 5 , |
| 2) | The training contemplated in subregulation (1) shall be conducted prior to the placement of the relevant employee. |
| 3) | Refresher training shall be conducted annually or at intervals that may be recommended by the health and safety committee and the health and safety representative. |
| 4) | The training contemplated in subregulation (1), shall be provided by a person who is competent to do so and who has adequate personal practical experience and theoretical knowledge of all aspects of the work carried out by the employee. |
| 5) | An employer or self-employed person shall ensure as far as is reasonably practicable that his or her mandatories or persons other than employees who may be affected by noise exposure at the workplace are given adequate information, instruction and training. |
| 6) | An employer shall keep a record of any training that is given to an employee in terms of this regulation. |