Workplace Noise Mapping in Singapore | Qsis Pte Ltd Singapore

Qsis Pte Ltd (www.qsis.com.sg) is a leading organization committed to providing and maintaining high work standards. The company offers wide range of quality services to its clients in the fields of manufacturing industry as well as petro-chemical industry. The principal aim of the organization is to fulfil the motto of ‘Customer Satisfaction First’.

Workplace Noise Mapping

Measuring employees’ exposure to the noise level in an organization is an integral part of a workplace hearing conservation and noise control program. Workplace noise mapping helps in the identification of areas/locations vulnerable to noise problems, and assessing the damaging impact it may have on employees. Subsequently, it assists in evaluating the gap areas where additional noise measurements need to be made.
Qsis Pte Ltd offers efficient and well-trained personnel (Noise Monitoring Officer) to assist the employer of the workplace across the broad spectrum services of performing the noise monitoring in their premises till the preparation of noise monitoring report to be duly submitted to the Ministry of Manpower.

Legal requirement for noise measurement

In accordance with the Workplace Safety and Health (Noise) Regulations 2011, it is mandatory for each occupier (factory license holder) to get the noise emitted through their workplace (either by machinery, tools or equipment used in their workplace and / or any procedural work carried out in their workplace) measured. The report generated is to be submitted online to the Ministry of Manpower.

Frequency of noise measurement

Noise measurement data is helpful in assessing the potential noise problem. The frequency of measuring the same depends on the following variables:

Minimum one time checking in three years;
Whenever there is change in infrastructure like the positioning/placement of machinery, size or position of the tools or equipment, processes or operations;
Or as per the instructions of the Commissioner (MOM) to the employer, whichever is earlier.

Indicators of exposure to high noise level:

For occupational hygiene purposes, the sound pressure level is measured to identify the sources of noise exposure using a variety of instruments and techniques depending on the requirement and the information needed.
It is imperative to determine whether or not noise is a potential problem at your workplace. The indicators of potentially hazardous noise level may include: compulsion to raise one’s voice to be able to be audible to someone at one metre (3 feet) away, habit of increasing the volume of TV to a level too loud for others or inability to communicate in a crowd or gathering amidst other sounds or voices.

the sound pressure level exceeds 85 dB(A) during an 8-hour working day;
the exposure limit for noise crosses the permissible limits as mandated in the Workplace Safety and Health (Noise) regulations 2011, Part Iv, The Schedule – Permissible Exposure Limits For Noise; and/or
the peak sound pressure level is above 140 dB(C).

Competency level of the personnel to measure noise levels:

The personnel deputed for measuring the noise level shall be fully trained, efficient and competent in all respects. The requisite qualification required for a Noise Monitoring Officer in Singapore is as follows :

Undertaking and clearing the Noise Monitoring Officer course is a must.v
He/she must be capable of operating / calibrating the sound level meter and recording the readings.
He/she will use a calibrated type 1 sound level meter.

Our company offers the services of highly proficient and experienced personnel to carry out workplace noise monitoring and personal dosimetry.

Purpose of noise monitoring

Besides the legal requirement, the purpose/framework of noise monitoring includes (but not limited to):

hearing loss prevention, noise control, and avoiding community annoyance;
identification of source (machine / process)and the temporal pattern of noise whether it is continuous, intermittent, or irregular;
quantification / identification the workforce exposed to high noise levels;
checking the effectiveness of the control measures undertaken to curb the noise level; and
indicating the locations where hearing protectors should be used.

Noise monitoring will be carried out by our efficient Noise Monitoring Officers in accordance with Workplace Safety and Health (Noise) Regulations, 2011 and Workplace Safety & Health Guidelines (Hearing Conservation) Programme Rev 2014.

Noise Monitoring Report

Our personnel will prepare a comprehensive and evaluative noise monitoring report which comprises the following :

Professional details of personnel performing the noise mapping
Details of Workplace monitored
List of Workplace employees
Details of Instrumentation: the most common instruments being the sound level meter (SLM), the integrating sound level meter (ISLM), and the noise dosimeter.
Certification
Result Tables for Personal Monitoring
Suggestions for Implementation of Hearing Conservation Programme
Appendix 1 – Hearing Conservation Programme
Appendix 2 – Result Tables (Personal Monitoring)
Appendix 3 – Recommendations for Implementation of HCP for Noisy Workplaces
Appendix 4 – Noise Measurement Report

Submission of noise monitoring report to MOM (Ministry of Manpower)

As Qsis Pte Ltd (www.qsis.com.sg) is an MOM approved noise monitoring company, we shall submit the noise monitoring report on behalf of our clients.

Outcome of exposure to high noise levels

Regular or prolonged exposure to high noise levels may lead to hearing loss and may have other detrimental heath effects too. Hearing loss can be temporary or permanent. Temporary hearing loss results from short-term exposure to noise but is restored to normal after a short period of withdrawal from the exposure. However, prolonged exposure to high noise levels over a period of time gradually causes permanent hearing loss which may be referrred to as Noise induced deafness.