A critical analysis of the current South African occupational health law and hearing loss
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Date
2020-03-24
Open Access Location
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
AOSIS
Rights
CC BY 4.0
Abstract
Background: Occupational health laws must recognise the constitutional requirement of substantive equality, and its role in ‘the progressive realisation’ of the rights provided by Section 27.
Objectives: Our main aim is to review current South African occupational health law (vis-à-vis workers’ constitutional rights) in relation to hearing loss. We focus on gaps in the law regarding occupational hearing loss in South Africa.
Method: Our review of legal texts relies on experience as a methodological device augmented by the use of a critical science. Guided by literature or evidence synthesis methodologies, South African primary and secondary laws were reviewed along with unpublished (non-peer-reviewed) grey literature. An established six-step framework guided our thematic analysis. A semantic approach aided the critical interpretation of data using the Bill of Rights as a core analytical framework.
Results: Four themes are discussed: (1) separate and unequal regulatory frameworks; (2) monologic foregrounding of noise; (3) minimisation of vestibular disorders; and (4) dilution of ototoxic agents. The highly divided legal framework of occupational health and safety in South Africa perpetuates a monologic ‘excessive noise-hearing loss’ paradigm that has implications for the rights of all workers to equal protections and benefits. There is a need to harmonise occupational health and safety law, and expand the scope of hearing-protection legislation to include the full range of established ototoxic hazards.
Conclusion: Occupational audiology is dominated by efforts to address noise-induced hearing loss. A ‘noise’ despite the reality of workers’ exposures to a range of ototoxic stressors that act synergistically on the ear, resulting in audio-vestibular disorders.
Description
Keywords
audiology, chemical, hearing loss, occupational health, occupational health and safety law, ototoxicity, Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced, Human Rights, Humans, Noise, Occupational, Occupational Diseases, Occupational Exposure, Occupational Health, South Africa
Citation
Manning WG, Pillay M. (2020). A critical analysis of the current South African occupational health law and hearing loss.. S Afr J Commun Disord. 67. 2. (pp. e1-e11).