9th September 2026 - 2 min read
Hearing-related conditions made up 82.3% of the 8,196 confirmed occupational disease cases recorded in Malaysia in 2024. That makes them the most common category of workplace-linked illness nationwide, the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) said.
At the East Coast Zone Occupational Health Symposium 2026, DOSH deputy director-general Ahmad Jailani Mansor said workplace exposure to excessive noise, particularly in the industrial sector, was the main factor behind the high number of hearing-related cases.
Under DOSH’s Noise Exposure Regulations 2019, employers must provide hearing protection and conduct annual hearing tests once a worker’s noise exposure reaches 82 decibels averaged over an 8-hour shift.
Employers are also legally required to report confirmed cases of noise-induced hearing loss to DOSH, and failing to do so is itself an offence.
Noise-induced hearing loss is recognised as a compensable occupational disease under SOCSO’s Employment Injury Scheme, meaning affected workers may be eligible for Temporary or Permanent Disablement Benefits depending on the severity of their condition, provided medical evidence links the hearing loss to workplace exposure.
Ahmad Jailani said continued efforts to prevent, control and manage occupational health risks remain necessary as workplace health challenges grow more complex.
Ahmad Jailani said the remaining cases included 820 musculoskeletal disorders, 299 diseases caused by physical agents, 203 cases of occupational poisoning, and 82 skin diseases. A further 24 cases involved biological agents, 16 were lung diseases, 3 were occupational cancers, and 2 were psychosocial disorders.
In total, 11,465 occupational disease cases were reported nationwide in 2024, of which 8,196 were confirmed.
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Iman writes about personal finance with curiosity. She is interested in the stories behind money, the hesitation around big decisions, and the small habits that shape financial futures. Off the clock, she is either dissecting a film or climbing her way up the leaderboard in her favourite games.
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