Hearing Conservation Programme Costs at Selected South African Companies.

This article focuses on the inclusion of cost analysis in noise risk assessments and the administration costs of hearing conservation programmes (HCPs) within South African manufacturing and utilities companies. The study found that none of the four participating companies incorporated cost analysis in their noise risk assessment processes, despite legal requirements under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 1993 and related Noise-Induced Hearing Loss Regulations. Hearing protection devices (HPDs) represented the largest direct cost in HCPs, while audiometry costs were lowest due to internalization of services. The findings highlight the need to integrate cost analysis into risk assessments to improve decision-making regarding noise control measures, potentially supporting a shift from reliance on HPDs toward more cost-effective engineering noise controls.