The Noise-induced Hearing Loss Milestones: past and Future

Introduction: At the 2003 Mine Health and Safety Summit, the milestones for elimination of Noise-induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) in the mining industry were agreed on. The first milestone, December 2008, has passed and the next one in 2013 is looming. The study sought to answer the questions: Did we reach the 2008 milestone? What should the industry do now about hearing conservation that will ensure that there is no deterioration in hearing greater than 10% amongst noise-exposed miners? How can we ensure that the industry achieves the 2013 milestone? What else should the industry aim for to achieve “zero harm” to workers‟ hearing? Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on the Rand Mutual Assurance (RMA) NIHL compensation claims from 1998 to 2008 to determine if the 2008 milestone was achieved. The number and costs of NIHL compensation claims in different commodities and workplaces were collated. A secondary analysis of the ages of employees compensated after 2008 was conducted. A complementary retrospective analysis of audiogram data investigated the percentage loss of hearing (PLH) shift in different homogeneously exposed groups and occupations at two gold mines. Results and Discussion: The compensation claims analysis indicated a significant decrease in NIHL claims from 1998 to 2008 but the milestone was not achieved. The reason for not achieving the milestone may be either that claims have not been submitted timeously as required by Instruction 171 and that the current submissions are a result of pre-2003 noise exposure or that employees who were baselined are still developing NIHL owing to ineffective hearing conservation programmes in place in the mining industry. On the basis of best practice for hearing conservation, recommendations are made for leading indicators in hearing conservation programmes and for reducing the risks of NIHL in order to achieve the 2013 milestone.