Hygiene monitoring includes toxic substance monitoring and noise monitoring, and must be done by a competent person.
What is hygiene monitoring
Hygiene monitoring tests the workplace environment, and includes toxic substance monitoring and noise monitoring. Monitoring must be done by a competent person.
A competent person needs to complete the relevant WSQ certification, including the following:
For noise monitoring, they should complete the Monitoring Noise and Vibration course.
For toxic substance monitoring, they should complete the Measure Exposure and Assess the Risk due to Hazardous Substances course.
Relevant regulations:
Workplace Safety and Health (General Provisions) Regulations
Workplace Safety and Health (Noise) Regulations
What is monitoring
Monitoring helps you assess your workers’ level of exposure to hazards and how effective your hazard control measures are.
You should evaluate the results of workplace monitoring and take the necessary measures to safeguard your workers’ health. You should also inform employees of the results and keep a record.
Toxic substances monitoring
If your workplace uses or generates toxic substances, you must conduct regular toxic substances monitoring. The frequency of monitoring is dependent on the level of contaminant compared against the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) stated in the WSH (General Provision Regulations) First Schedule.
After conducting monitoring, you would have to submit a toxic substances monitoring report to MOM.
The recommended frequencies for monitoring are:
For details on monitoring requirements, refer to guidelines on sampling strategy and submission of toxic substances monitoring
Effective for subsequent (future, starting with the next report) toxic substances monitoring report e-submissions, you will need to submit completed Annex K of the WSH Guidelines - MHCP. This is an additional file to submit to the web portal.
Please fill up the three pages of questionnaire to self-assess your workplace Management of Hazardous Chemicals Programme (MHCP). Then scan and submit it to web portal together with the future hygiene monitoring reports.
Noise monitoring
Noise monitoring involves:
- Workplace noise monitoring – testing noise levels throughout the workplace.
- Personal noise monitoring – testing noise levels that specific groups of workers are exposed to.
After conducting monitoring, you would have to submit a noise monitoring report to MOM.
When to do noise monitoring
For details on monitoring requirements, refer to the Workplace Safety and Health Guidelines
