On 31 March 2022, the Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws replaced the health and safety elements of the Mines Safety and Inspection laws. For information visit www.demirs.wa.gov.au/whs
For updated information relating to certificates of competency see Statutory positions
Transitional arrangements may be in place for the compliance requirements on this page.
All health and safety notifications, forms and guidance for mining and petroleum has moved to the WorkSafe website
What is the role of a noise officer?
A noise officer is a person who has been approved, after successfully completing an approved course, and appointed by the manager of the mine to collect noise data on which a noise report is based. The noise officer may only use approved procedures and sound measurement equipment to collect data for the noise report.
Refer to r. 7.10 of the Mines Safety and Inspection Regulations 1995
Duties of a noise officer
The approved noise officer can:
- prepare a noise report
- collate information on noise and help provide information and training to workers
- monitor a worker’s exposure to noise (noise dosimetry)
- propose engineering and administrative measures to control noise.
Further information: The noise report forms the basis of the risk assessment used to devise the risk management noise control plan for noise. This plan must be prepared and implemented within six months of completion of a noise report.
Guidance about noise management and hearing conservation is available.
Noise report
The approved procedures listed in Appendix 6 of Management of noise in Western Australian mining operations - guideline below set out the methods to ensure regulatory compliance for the noise report.
Regular assessment of worker’s noise exposure
As part of the risk management process, a noise dosimeter should be used to regularly measure personal noise exposure with the aim of evaluating the average exposure of workers to noise during a normal shift. Dosimetry allows existing noise control measures to be assessed to confirm their continued effectiveness.
Guidance is provided for approved noise officers undertaking personal noise exposure recordings of workers involved in mining and mineral processing activities in Western Australia.
WorkCover WA administers the Workers’ Compensation and Injury Management Act 1981, which requires employers to arrange and pay for baseline hearing tests for all workers in prescribed workplaces.
Related information
Below is the list of documents and links that you may find useful.
Further information on noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) and audiometric testing is available from WorkCover WA.