Safety and Health at Work Vol. 13 Supplement 2022
Reaching industry milestones on noise induced hearing loss in the South African Mining Industry
Dublin Core
Title
Safety and Health at Work Vol. 13 Supplement 2022
Reaching industry milestones on noise induced hearing loss in the South African Mining Industry
Reaching industry milestones on noise induced hearing loss in the South African Mining Industry
Subject
Reaching industry milestones,noise induced hearing loss, the South African Mining Industry
Description
Introduction: Noise induced hearing loss (NIHL) continues to be a significant occupational disease in South African mines, accounting for 23.7% and 29% of all diseases in 2008 and 2019 respectively. Interventions: Through the tripartite Mine Health and Safety Council, the industry has since 2003 utilised the setting and monitoring of
aspirational milestones to eliminate occupational diseases, injuries and deaths. For noise, the milestones were: by December 2024, the total operational or process noise emitted by any equipment must not exceed a milestone sound pressure level of 107 dB(A); by December 2016, no employee’s standard threshold shift (STS) will exceed 25dB from the baselinewhen averaged at 2000, 3000 and 4000 Hz in one or both ears.These milestones were bolstered with interventions and monitoring by the Minerals Council South Africa and individual companies. Promotion and adoption of leading practices by the Minerals Council MOSH Learning Hub was implemented. The elimination of noisy equipment through the Industry Buy and Maintain Quiet (IBMQI) by eliminating noise at source was the mainstay of the industry’s response.
Results: By the end of 2020, the number of pieces of equipment emitting more than 107 dB (A) in the industry had fallen to 318, from 3221 in 2015. Cases of STS exceeding 25 dB had been reported in 2020. Conclusion: Progress is being made with elimination of NIHL in the South African mining industry but more still needs to be done.
aspirational milestones to eliminate occupational diseases, injuries and deaths. For noise, the milestones were: by December 2024, the total operational or process noise emitted by any equipment must not exceed a milestone sound pressure level of 107 dB(A); by December 2016, no employee’s standard threshold shift (STS) will exceed 25dB from the baselinewhen averaged at 2000, 3000 and 4000 Hz in one or both ears.These milestones were bolstered with interventions and monitoring by the Minerals Council South Africa and individual companies. Promotion and adoption of leading practices by the Minerals Council MOSH Learning Hub was implemented. The elimination of noisy equipment through the Industry Buy and Maintain Quiet (IBMQI) by eliminating noise at source was the mainstay of the industry’s response.
Results: By the end of 2020, the number of pieces of equipment emitting more than 107 dB (A) in the industry had fallen to 318, from 3221 in 2015. Cases of STS exceeding 25 dB had been reported in 2020. Conclusion: Progress is being made with elimination of NIHL in the South African mining industry but more still needs to be done.
Creator
Thuthula Balfour
Publisher
Elsevier Korea LLC
Date
January 2022
Contributor
Sri Wahyuni
Format
PDF
Language
English
Type
Text
Coverage
Safety and Health at Work Vol. 13 Supplement 2022
Files
Citation
Thuthula Balfour, “Safety and Health at Work Vol. 13 Supplement 2022
Reaching industry milestones on noise induced hearing loss in the South African Mining Industry,” Repository Horizon University Indonesia, accessed May 15, 2025, https://repository.horizon.ac.id/items/show/2533.
Reaching industry milestones on noise induced hearing loss in the South African Mining Industry,” Repository Horizon University Indonesia, accessed May 15, 2025, https://repository.horizon.ac.id/items/show/2533.