Noise Exposure Risk Assessment

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South Africa’s Noise Exposure Regulations, 2024, published on 06 March 2025 under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (Act 85 of 1993), replace the Noise-Induced Hearing Loss Regulations, 2003 (Government Notice No. R.307 of 7 March 2003). The previous regulations will be repealed 18 months after promulgation.

The new regulations introduce a risk-based, programme-driven approach to managing occupational noise exposure and place a clear legal obligation on employers to identify, assess, control and review noise risks in the workplace.

In terms of Regulation 7 of the Noise Exposure Regulations, 2024, every employer or self-employed person must ensure that a noise exposure risk assessment is:

• Conducted before exposure to noise, where reasonably practicable
• Reviewed at intervals not exceeding 24 months
• Reviewed immediately when changes occur (processes, machinery, controls, incidents, or adverse medical findings)
• Conducted by a competent person with appropriate knowledge, training and experience in occupational noise

This Noise Risk Assessment Template has been designed to support employers, safety practitioners and competent persons in structuring and documenting workplace noise risk assessments in line with these regulatory requirements.

⚠️ This template is intended as a practical risk-assessment and planning tool. It does not replace professional judgement, workplace measurements, or services required to be performed by approved inspection authorities or occupational health professionals where applicable.

Reference: Noise Exposure Regulations, 2024 – Regulation 7 (Government Gazette, 06 March 2025).

The Physical Agents Regulations, 2024 (PAR) were promulgated on 6 March 2025 and introduce a consolidated legal framework for managing workplace exposure to physical agents, including thermal stress , illumination, indoor air quality, vibration, non-ionising radiation and other physical hazards.

These regulations will replace the Environmental Regulations for Workplaces, 1987, following the prescribed transition period, and place expanded obligations on employers to conduct documented physical agent exposure risk assessments.

In terms of Regulation 6 of the Physical Agents Regulations, 2024, an employer or self-employed person must conduct a documented physical agent exposure risk assessment:

• Before exposure, as far as is reasonably practicable
• At intervals not exceeding 24 months
• By a competent person

The risk assessment must include, at a minimum:

• Identification of physical agent hazards
• Identification of persons who may be affected
• Evaluation and prioritisation of 
• Development of a documented action plan to address identified risks