A critical analysis of the current South African occupational health law and hearing loss
South African Journal of Communication Disorders
| Field | Value | |
| Title | A critical analysis of the current South African occupational health law and hearing loss | |
| Creator | Manning, Warren G. Pillay, Mershen | |
| Description | 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by literature or evidence synthesis methodologies, South African primary and secondary laws were reviewed along with unpublished (non-peer-reviewed) grey literature.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. | |
| Publisher | AOSIS | |
| Date | 2020-03-24 | |
| Identifier | 10.4102/sajcd.v67i2.694 | |
| Source | South African Journal of Communication Disorders; Vol 67, No 2 (2020); 11 pages 2225-4765 0379-8046 | |
| Language | eng | |
| Relation |
The following web links (URLs) may trigger a file download or direct you to an alternative webpage to gain access to a publication file format of the published article:
https://sajcd.org.za/index.php/sajcd/article/view/694/1175
https://sajcd.org.za/index.php/sajcd/article/view/694/1174
https://sajcd.org.za/index.php/sajcd/article/view/694/1176
https://sajcd.org.za/index.php/sajcd/article/view/694/1170
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