7.—(1) Where there are 10 or more relevant persons employed or working in a workplace, it shall be the duty of the occupier of the workplace to cause noise monitoring to be carried out at least once every 3 years, or earlier if any change in machinery, equipment, process, operation, work, control or other condition is likely to cause any such person to be exposed to excessive noise.
(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the Commissioner may require the occupier of the workplace to cause noise monitoring to be carried out at such other intervals as the Commissioner may determine, and the occupier must cause noise monitoring to be carried out at that interval.
[S 434/2024 wef 01/06/2024]
(3) For the purposes of paragraphs (1) and (2), it shall be the duty of the occupier of the workplace to —
(a)
appoint a competent person to carry out noise monitoring;
(b)
not later than 14 days after receiving the report referred to in paragraph (4)(c) from the competent person, communicate the contents of the report to all relevant persons;
(c)
not later than 30 days after the carrying out of the noise monitoring, submit a copy of the report referred to in paragraph (4)(c) to the Commissioner; and
(d)
keep the report available for at least 10 years.
(4) It shall be the duty of the competent person referred to in paragraph (3)(a) to —
(a)
carry out noise monitoring using —
(i)
recognised methods;
(ii)
accepted standard procedures; and
(iii)
suitable equipment which is properly calibrated to ensure accuracy;
(b)
properly interpret the results of noise monitoring;
(c)
prepare a report of the results of noise monitoring; and
(d)
submit the report to the occupier of the workplace not later than 14 days after the carrying out of noise monitoring.
(5) [Deleted by S 434/2024 wef 01/06/2024]
(6) [Deleted by S 434/2024 wef 01/06/2024]
Hearing protectors
8.—(1) It shall be the duty of the responsible person to provide suitable hearing protectors to every relevant person.
(2) It shall be the duty of the responsible person to ensure that any hearing protectors provided under paragraph (1) shall —
(a)
correctly fit the user;
(b)
attenuate the exposure of the user to sound pressure levels below 85 dB(A);
(c)
be compatible with the job requirements of the user; and
(d)
not prejudice the health and safety of the user.
(3) It shall be the duty of the responsible person to establish and implement procedures to ensure that —
(a)
hearing protectors are properly issued and maintained; and
(b)
every relevant person —
(i)
uses hearing protectors; and
(ii)
is instructed in the proper use of the hearing protectors.
(4) It shall be the duty of the occupier of a workplace to ensure that warning signs that comply with paragraph (5) are posted at all entrances to or at the periphery of all areas of the workplace in which any person is exposed or is likely to be exposed to excessive noise.
(5) Every warning sign referred to in paragraph (4) shall clearly indicate that hearing protectors must be worn in the areas referred to in paragraph (4).
(6) [Deleted by S 434/2024 wef 01/06/2024]
Training programme
9.—(1) It shall be the duty of the responsible person to institute a training programme for every relevant person.
(2) It shall be the duty of the responsible person to ensure that the training programme includes instruction in the following:
(a)
the relevant provisions of the Act and these Regulations;
(b)
the effects of noise on hearing;
(c)
the purpose of hearing protectors;
(d)
the advantages, disadvantages and attenuation of various types of hearing protectors;
(e)
the selection, fitting, use and care of hearing protectors; and
(f)
the purpose of hearing tests and the appropriate procedures and requirements of such tests.
(3) It shall be the duty of the responsible person to conduct the training programme for every relevant person —
(a)
within 3 months of that person first commencing work in the workplace; and
