Noise `action levels' in Western Australian workplaces are to be lowered to protect people's hearing.
The State Government will introduce regulations to lower the action level for exposure on an average working day from 90 decibels (dBA) to 85dBA.
"This move will bring WA into line with the national standard," Productivity and Labour Relations Minister Yvonne Henderson said today.
"All other States have already indicated that they are moving in this direction," Mrs Henderson said. "The national standard was endorsed by the National Occupational Health and Safety Commission last month.
"WA's current action level of 90dBA is estimated to cause hearing loss to four times as many people as would be affected at the proposed 85dBA action level."
Mrs Henderson announced the change at Kwinana power station.
"There has been a concerted and successful program here, in this very noisy environment, to lower the decibel levels," she said.
"But everybody recognises that there is more to be done.
"The changes to noise action levels will be introduced to the Occupational Health Safety and Welfare Regulations, and will take effect from January 1 next year. The regulations cover all workplaces except in the mining industry."
However, Mrs Henderson said, the action level was not a `never-to-be-exceeded' limit, and WA legislation would still require that engineering noise control be introduced `as far as practicable' whenever the noise action level was exceeded.
"This enables economic as well as practical factors to be taken into account in considering compliance with the regulations," she said.
"The first priority of employers in complying with the regulations will be to try to reduce noise levels either at the source of the noise or by isolating the noise from employees.
"Providing personal hearing protection will not exempt employers from reducing noise 'as far as practicable'.
"However, employees exposed to noise levels above 85dBA will need to be provided with personal hearing protection, as well as information, instruction, and training about noise hazards."
Employers who had recently completed noise reports based on the 90dBA action level would be given time to comply.
"Many other countries, including Canada, England, Finland, Germany, Israel, Netherlands, Norway, South Africa and the US have set 85dBA levels either for all workplaces or in certain circumstances," Mrs Henderson said.
"I am confident that most employers will see the productivity benefits of this change, and the value of preventing costly compensation claims for noise-induced hearing loss."
Further assistance in complying with occupational health and safety noise regulations is available in booklets free of charge from the Department of Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare.
