The Factories Act, which is the main legislation safeguarding the health and safety of workers in factories, stipulates that where persons are exposed to excessive noise or vibration from any process, effective means shall as far as practicable be provided to reduce the noise or vibration. The law also requires factory occupiers to provide hearing protectors to workers exposed to excessive noise.
Statutory Medical Examinations

Under the Factories (Medical Examinations) Regulations³, 1985, workers exposed to excessive noise are required to undergo pre-employment and annual medical examinations, including an audiometric examination. The objective of the examinations, which are conducted by a Designated Factory Doctor, is to detect early cases of NID. As at end 2004, a total of 18,056 NID cases have been detected, most in the early stages with no significant hearing disability. Only 394 (or 2%) of the cases had hearing loss sufficiently severe to warrant compensation.

3. The Government of Singapore. The Factories (Medical Examinations) Regulations. The Government Printer, 1985.