How ready are you for the new Noise Exposure Regulations?
A focused self-check against South Africa’s new noise framework — including the 82 dBA action level, 85 dBA rating limit, exposure risk assessment, approved monitoring, audiometry, noise zones, hearing protection and 40-year records.
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Noise compliance now needs to connect exposure, health surveillance, engineering controls and hearing-loss trends.
A compliant programme starts with a competent-person risk assessment, uses approved monitoring where triggered, addresses combined exposure to ototoxic chemicals and vibration, acts on audiometric changes, controls the source first and keeps the evidence for the long term.
What this check covers
This free check tests a hearing conservation programme against the Noise Exposure Regulations, 2024, which the Department of Employment and Labour brought into effect from 5 September 2026 and which replace the old noise-induced hearing loss regime. Thirteen questions follow the programme the regulations expect: identifying where people are exposed to continuous or impulse noise and whether ototoxic chemicals or whole-body vibration occur at the same time (which lowers the action level to 82 dBA or 135 dBC); training before exposure and at least annually; a competent-person noise exposure risk assessment reviewed at least every 24 months; monitoring by an approved noise inspection authority where the assessment triggers it; controlling the source before relying on hearing protection; demarcated noise zones; hearing protection that is selected, fitted, compatible and maintained; medical surveillance and audiometry under the new Code of Practice; trending audiometric results; maintaining controls; and records kept for 40 years. Seven of the thirteen are safety-critical. It is written for the manager or safety representative of a workshop, plant, mill or construction operation. Our free Noise Exposure Awareness Course covers the same ground in more depth.
Legal references used to bound this screening tool
New noise framework, including the Code of Practice for Audiometry.
Department stated the new Noise Exposure and Physical Agents regimes would come into effect from 5 September 2026.
Conditional exemption for qualifying mobile plant; not a general exemption from noise duties.
Risk assessments by a competent person.
Baseline, task-based, chemical, biological and ergonomic risk assessments with clear control measures.
Risk Assessments →Turn findings into controlled actions and evidence.
Use the assessment as an entry point, then connect risk assessments, incidents, plant, training, medicals, contractors, legal duties and controlled documents in the live OHSE system.
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