Noise officer course objective
Mine operators have a duty to establish and implement a mine safety management system (MSMS) for the mine. A health management plan (HMP) is one of the key component of an MSMS.
Under the HMP there is a requirement to:
- conduct noise surveys to understand noise emission levels at the workplace
- be able to verify the effectiveness of noise controls
- identify areas or activities that require a noise improvement plan
- conduct regular and representative workforce exposure testing remains.
Note: Similar requirements have been in place since 1980s.
This measurement and testing is a key requirement to verify the effectiveness of controls and demonstrate compliance with specific legislation.
Under schedule 26 of the Work Health and Safety (Mines) Regulations 2022 (WHS Mines Regulations) a noise officer must be appointed for a mine if a person at the mine is likely to be exposed to noise at the mine that exceeds the exposure standard for noise.
Compared to the repealed mines safety and inspection legislation, the roles and eligibility criteria have been further defined. The role of the noise officer is to advise the mine operator on the plant and processes that exceed the exposure standard for noise, and recommend steps to be taken to reduce exposures and plan and carry out monitoring to verify control effectiveness.
The eligibility criteria for appointment include:
- completion of an approved course about measuring and managing noise
- completion of WHS risk management and communication units
- passed an applicable mining legislation exam.
The mine operator appoints the noise officer after determining competency and eligibility criteria. The regulator does not approve an individual’s appointment but can “disapprove”. If a person was “disapproved” then the competency of the mine operator to appoint appropriate persons would also be questioned.
Although not defined in the WHS Mines Regulation, the noise assessor or noise technician plays an important role in assisting the noise officer in their role. The noise assessor must be competent in sampling and assessing noise hazards generally achieved by completing a course or as part of relevant qualification.
For sample results to be deemed valid and be able to be submitted into the Safety Regulation System’s (SRS) mine worker exposure database, a person must be approved as a registered sampler/noise assessor.
An approved course on noise measurement and management should aligned to the national unit of competency MSS025025 Monitor and evaluate noise as applicable to occupational exposures in the mining environment.
Expectations of noise assessors’ course
The noise assessors’ course should be aligned as applicable to MSS025025. Visit training.gov.au for elements and performance criteria relevant to this course.
The course and theoretical assessment should be conducted over a five-day period. (excluding any prereading or preparation of the noise report).
Presenter skills and experience
The presenter(s) of the course should be highly knowledgeable and experienced in noise measurement and assessment.
Foundation skills
Noise measurement and interpretation is a technical skill and as such the following foundation skills for participants are required.
- Reading skills to interpret workplace documents and regulatory requirements
- Writing skills to record observations and measurements and report results
- Oral communication skills to communicate with frontline and supervisory personnel
- Numeracy skills to interpret and perform calculations on data.
The noise assessors’ course should cover the following:
- role of noise officer, obligations, accountability, applicable legislation [Schedule 26 of WHS Mines Regulations]
- basic acoustic theory
- basic noise control, but not design
- exposure standards, i.e. types, shift adjustments, information sources
- hazards of noise, hazards for workers, hazards to self
- sampling techniques, predominantly practical exercise
- sampling and record keeping
- calculations to determine noise characteristics, impact on hearing and selection of hearing protection
- selection of correct hearing protection
- format of a noise report
- SRS awareness and how to submit sample results and deal with exceedances.
Evaluation of noise assessor’s competency should be heavily focussed on:
- practical ability to select the correct device
- prepare that device, e.g. calibration
- deploy the sampling equipment, including how to liaise with a person being sampled, location and orientation of device and fit sampler on person
- completion of sampling sheets.
Written examination should cover:
- understanding and importance of role
- ability to perform calculations
- ability to interpret information sources.
- ability to identify and interpret applicable, legislation, codes, standards, and safe work procedures and determine compliance.
- ability to interpret results and compare to applicable standards i.e. perform basic risk assessment
- the role of SRS, sample submission and exceedance investigation.
It is expected that a significant component of the course will involve practical assessments. The theoretical assessment should be no more than 3 hours plus a noise report submitted within 3 months.
The noise report should be in a recognised format and follow a noise survey of small area of plant or an activity. The purpose of this report is to assess participant’s ability to plan and measure noise in the field (conduct a noise survey), record applicable data, interpret that data and make recommendations on processes or controls that would reduce noise.
Supplementary exams are permitted, however coaching for or during the exam is strictly forbidden.
To be successful in completing the course, you must be an active participation in all classes and exercises, demonstration of competency for all practical exercises and achieve at least 80% in the theoretical exam and submission of a suitable noise report.