Track: Occupational Safety and Health (OSH)

Abstract

Operations managers are confronted with both first-level noise control (noise engineering) and second-level (hearing conservation) measures. The exploration of the full spectrum noise control is highlighted by a case study of South Africa’s largest gold mining group. While modern factories will use sound cameras and new types of electromagnetic noise will occur, mine workers are continuously more exposed to potentially dangerous noise levels than to similar levels of any other noxious agent. The paper shows how second-level measures are not further compromised with second best quality. It focuses on a best-practice hearing conservation case, designed and implemented (maintained) on a large scale for more than 25 000 mine workers. The paper contributes to the prevention of NIHL (noise-induced hearing loss) and provides management with an overview and practical principles for best-practice noise control.