title: A business case evaluation of workplace engineering noise control: a net-cost model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This article provides a convenient tool for companies to determine the costs and benefits of alternative interventions to prevent noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL).
  
  
  METHODS
  Contextualized for Singapore and in collaboration with Singapore's Ministry of Manpower, the Net-Cost model evaluates costs of intervention for equipment and labor, avoided costs of productivity losses and medical care, and productivity gains from the employer's economic perspective.
  
  
  RESULTS
  To pilot this approach, four case studies are presented, with varying degrees of economic benefits to the employer, including one in which multifactor productivity is the main driver.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although compliance agencies may not require economic analysis of NIHL, given scarce resources in a market-driven economy, this tool enables stakeholders to understand and compare the costs and benefits of NIHL interventions comprehensively and helps in determining risk management strategies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Economics, University of Massachusetts Lowell, MA 01854, USA. Supriya_lahiri@uml.edu
authors.forename: Supriya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lahiri
authors.forename: Colleen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Low
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barry
mesh_terms: D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004738:Engineering; D006317:Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D016272:Occupational Health; D010865:Pilot Projects