Abstract

STEENKAMP, R.J.. Effective hearing conservation demands new technology and re-engineering. S. Afr. J. Ind. Eng. [online]. 2008, vol.19, n.1, pp.215-229. ISSN 2224-7890.

The World Health Organization (WHO) lists noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) among the most critical global health concerns, given the high NIHL compensation statistics and a figure of up to 10,000 noise-related deaths each year. Industrial engineers / operations managers are now confronted with a serious challenge to control first-level noise in a modern engineering context to ensure that machines are quiet and administrative controls are well maintained. While noise continues, however, second-level noise control (hearing conservation) needs to be effective. To this end, a new management approach, re-engineering, redesign, and new hearing conservation programme (HCP) technology are required. The focus of this report is on an HCP model based on new HCP technologies (and management approaches) and a quality management method referred to as 'verification methodology'.

        · abstract in Afrikaans     · text in English     · English ( pdf )