Speech at Launch of Noise-Induced Deafness Prevention Programme
Mr Gan Kim Yong, Minister of State for Education and Manpower, DBS Auditorium
Mr Lim Sui Soon, Deputy Chairman, Workplace Safety and Health Metalworking Advisory Subcommittee;
Distinguished speakers;
Ladies and gentlemen;
Good afternoon
I am happy to join you today at the launch of Singapore's first Noise-Induced Deafness (NID) Prevention Programme, organised by the Workplace Safety and Health Advisory Committee, in collaboration with the Ministry of Manpower.
Serious work-related accidents continue to decline
2. First, let me share with you the latest workplace safety & health situation. I am glad to announce that serious work-related accidents have continued to decline. The number of work-related fatalities has dropped from 28 in the first half of last year to 25 in the same period this year. There was also a 33% drop in occupational diseases and a 7% drop in severe work-related injuries involving permanent disablement.
3. However, the number of less serious injury cases saw a 20% increase, mainly in sectors that are new to the safety and health accident reporting regime such as transport and storage as well as hotels and restaurants. This could be partly due to greater awareness and focus on employees' safety and health among these companies and hence more formal reporting on injuries. The industry-led WSH Advisory Committee will be releasing more details on these latest statistics. I commend the Committee for taking the initiative to share WSH statistics regularly. This will help to raise awareness among fellow industry players on the key areas of concern. It is a positive step towards fostering greater industry ownership and a useful channel to guide industry's response to key WSH concerns.
Noise Induced Deafness (NID) Statistics – The need to focus on NID
4. The Noise-Induced Deafness (NID) Prevention Programme is an important initiative. Noise-Induced Deafness has consistently been Singapore's top occupational disease. Last year, it accounted for 80% of Occupational Diseases. Despite the overall drop in the number of occupational diseases in the first half of this year, NID continued to account for 80% of the cases reported. Most, if not all, of these cases are a result of poor control of hazards or failure to use personal protective equipment. These are simple measures that can be implemented with the right training and education.
A five-year comprehensive programme
5. Therefore, the five-year NID Prevention Programme will adopt an educational approach, including awareness building, training in noise hazard management as well as monitoring of noisy workplaces and at-risk employees. The programme will target workplaces that have contributed to most of the NID cases, such as the metalworking sector, construction as well as shipbuilding and ship-repair sector. At the end of the programme, we hope that each of these workplaces will put in place an effective system or what is known as the “
Hearing Conservation Programme” to manage noise.
6. This programme follows the same principles as risk management and involves three main steps. Step one looks at where the noisy processes exist in the workplace. Step two identifies ways to reduce the noise levels either through engineering control measures or through the use of hearing protection devices. Step three involves implementing regular noise monitoring and medical surveillance of workers who are exposed to noise.
SHINE@work – The critical success factor
7. The success of the Noise Conservation Programme hinges on the support of everyone at work, in line with SHINE@work - Safety and Health Involves Everyone at Work, the theme of our safety and health promotional efforts. The top management must be committed to reducing noise risks to the lowest level possible. They can leverage on the experience of WSH professionals to identify hazards and recommend measures. Workers, at a personal level, must understand the need to protect their own hearing and make a conscious effort to use appropriate protective equipment. My Ministry and the Advisory Committee are also committed to assisting the industry in this aspect. We have planned a series of workers' educational initiatives to remind them to protect their hearing and teach them how they can wear their hearing protectors correctly. These include dormitory roadshows, talks, posters, promotional stickers as well as testimonials from fellow workers.
Closing
8. Hearing damage is irreversible, it would be too late once workers are diagnosed with NID. However, NID is preventable because it is a condition which develops only after prolonged exposure to excessive noise. Today's theme “Music to my ears” reminds us of why our hearing is so precious. Being able to hear, is something that we take for granted every day. I am sure that all of us present would not want ourselves or our workers to require a hearing aid in order to enjoy the beautiful voice of Ms Jacintha Abisheganaden, who is here today to promote the message of hearing protection. I also hope that the testimonies from workers on their experience with NID during this seminar would inspire you to reflect on the importance of protecting our hearing.
9. The sharing of best practices at this seminar will also provide good suggestions to help you enhance your company's Hearing Conservation Programme. On this note, I wish you all a fruitful session ahead.
Thank you.