NOISE-INDUCED DEAFNESS (Increase in incidence)

Mr Goh Chee Wee asked the Minister for Communications and Minister for Labour why there was a significant increase in the number of cases of Noise Induced Deafness in 1980, as reported in the 1980 Singapore Yearbook of Labour Statistics; whether the actual number of incidents would far exceed the number reported to the Labour Ministry; what industries were largely responsible for this increase; and whether the existing legislation and control are adequate to check the situation, and, if not, what steps the Ministry will take in this respect.

The Minister of State for Labour (Dr Wong Kwei Cheong) (for the Minister for Communications and Minister for Labour): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the number of confirmed cases of noise-induced deafness in 1980 was 229 as compared with 158 for 1979. This represented an increase of 45%. This increase was largely due to more workers being given periodic audiometric examinations by their employers.

It is possible that the actual number of cases of noise-induced deafness is more than the number reported to the Labour Ministry. This is because noise-induced deafness causes no obvious symptoms in the early stages but can be detected by an audio-metric examination. At present, noisy industries have been advised by the Industrial Health Division of the Labour Ministry to provide regular audiometric examinations for their workers. The Ministry intends to introduce legislation to make such examinations compulsory for all workers who are exposed to high noise levels. When such examinations are implemented, we shall get a much better picture of the total number of workers affected.

It must, however, be stressed that the vast majority of noise-induced deafness cases detected so far were in the early stages. For example, only 11 of the 229 cases confirmed in 1980 were advanced cases eligible for workmen's compensation.

As regards the industries largely responsible for the increase in noise-induced deafness in 1980, 113 of the 229 cases came from the transport, storage and supporting services industry, while 67 came from the manufacture of transport equipment industry.

Section 58 of the Factories Act stipulates that excessive noise shall be reduced as far as is practicable. Section 56 of the same Act provides that where workers are exposed to excessive noise, they have to be provided with proper ear protectors by their employers, Together with the forthcoming legislation on statutory audiometric examinations on a regular basis, these legislative requirements would be adequate to control the situation.

Mr Tan Soo Khoon (Alexandra): Sir, the Hon. Minister of State has spoken of the intention to introduce legislation to make audiometric examinations compulsory for workers exposed to high levels of noise. My question is: how high is a high level of noise? Does his Ministry have a permissible dBA level for workers exposed to high noise levels?

Dr Wong Kwei Cheong: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, for noise-induced deafness in the early stages. the noise level is about 50 dBA in the speech frequencies 1-3 kiloHertz (kHz). More excessive cases, or proper noise-induced deafness, are caused by noise levels that exceed 50 dBA in the speech frequencies 1-3 kHz.