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Aug 22, 2024 • 9 min read
Everything You Need to Know About Workplace Audiometric Testing
Workplace hearing loss is a significant issue, often resulting from prolonged exposure to loud noises or certain chemicals. According to Hearing Australia, long-term noise exposure was responsible for 98% of accepted workers compensation claims for deafness in 2020-2021, leading to an astounding $29.7 billion in financial costs.
Workers from industries such as manufacturing, construction, and transportation are particularly vulnerable to hearing impairment due to high noise levels. In order to create a less stressful and more productive environment for your employees, understanding the importance of workplace hearing protection and the audiometric test is crucial. Not only does it protect your employees’ hearing, but it also helps reduce workers compensation costs effectively.
Why is Noise a Potential Hazard in the Workplace?
Workplace noise requires great attention and ongoing monitoring. Before diving deeper, let’s see what detrimental effects noise brings to the workplace.
- Physical and Psychosocial Symptoms: Persistent noise exposure can lead to physical issues like elevated blood pressure, increased heart rate, and heightened nervousness and irritability. Psychosocial effects include fatigue and feelings of isolation.
- Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL): This occurs when repeated noise exposure damages the sensitive structures in the inner ear. NIHL develops gradually over time, often going unnoticed for years. It typically begins with a temporary threshold shift (TTS), which may be reversible if addressed early.
- Permanent Hearing Loss: A single exposure to peak noise levels above 140 dB can result in acoustic trauma, leading to immediate and irreversible workplace hearing loss. This is often accompanied by intense pain.
Best Practices for Noise Protection in the Workplace
It’s always better to implement workplace hearing protection measures to prevent your employees from suffering from continuous loud noise.
Here are some essential steps to take to prevent workplace hearing loss:
- Effective Noise Controls: Noise protection in the workplace should begin as early as the project’s planning stages by eliminating and substituting noise hazards, or isolating noise sources. This can be followed by engineering controls, such as using alternative materials or equipment to minimise the noise produced.
- Administrative Controls: According to SafeWork NSW, workplace noise assessments must be conducted in any noisy environment. This helps to identify and evaluate noise levels and sources. However, such measures are less effective than engineering controls, as they don’t eliminate noise and require extensive cooperation.
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): This is the last option to consider for residual noise risks after dealing with the measures discussed above. Providing workers with hearing PPE ensures their in-ear noise exposure level remains below 80dB(A).
- Mandatory Audiometric Test: If workers are required to frequently use hearing protection against noise exceeding the exposure standard, it is mandatory to provide workplace hearing tests for workers. The details of this test will be discussed in the following sections.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Audiometric Tests
You may or may not have heard of audiometric testing before this article. Here are the answers to some of our most frequently asked questions to help you better understand it:
For Employers
Q: What is an audiometric test, and why should I provide it to my employees?
A: An audiometric test is a painless, non-invasive assessment that evaluates an individual’s hearing ability. Conducting a hearing test for your workers enables early detection and prevention of workplace hearing loss.
Q: Who is required to undergo an audiometric test?
A: The NSW Government mandates that all workers who frequently use hearing protection to guard against workplace noise that exceeds safe noise levels must complete a baseline hearing test. New workers are required to complete the test within three months of starting their job, and existing workers must complete this test by 1 January 2026.
Q: Who performs the workplace audiometric test?
A: The audiometry test must be performed by a trained professional, such as an audiologist. They would be qualified to interpret the results and to assist the employer in making appropriate decisions.
Q: How much does a workplace hearing test cost?
A: At AusRehab, we offer comprehensive audiometry testing at competitive rates, with corporate pricing available for bulk orders. Enquire with us to find out more.
Q: What should I do upon receiving the results?
A: You must inform and follow up with employees for whom severe hearing loss has been detected. Otherwise, report details must be kept strictly confidential. Monitoring hearing tests should also be arranged for employees at least once every two years.
For Employees
Q: I’m taking my audiometric test for the first time. What should I expect?
A: You may need to answer a few questions to determine your history with noise exposure. Then comes an ear examination and the hearing test itself. The most common hearing test is pure tone audiometry, which measures the softest sound a person can hear.
Q: Would I receive the test results?
A: The results will be given to your employer in a detailed report. Your employer is required to inform you if a significant threshold shift in your hearing ability is identified. If this happens, follow-up testing and consultations will be necessary. Otherwise, your employer is obliged to maintain confidentiality of all results.
Q: Do I need to pay for the test?
A: Per NSW government regulations, your employer must cover the cost of the audiometry test regardless of whether it’s carried out as part of pre-employment screening or as regular testing.
Responsibilities of a Business in the Process
As the person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU), you hold key responsibilities in ensuring workplace safety, including hearing health. That means you need to organise and pay for the hearing test, as well as ensure that employees with noise-induced hearing loss are tested regularly.
All test results must be kept confidential unless the employment ends. If severe hearing loss is detected, the PCBU must take immediate action and send workers to doctors for diagnosis. Continuous review and improvement of noise control measures is also essential.
Besides audiometry testing, you might also need to conduct pre-employment screening or an ergonomic assessment for your organisation. Ensure all necessary examinations are arranged for legal compliance and an optimised work environment
Safeguard Your Employees’ Hearing Health with AusRehab
Looking for a workplace hearing test provider? Look no further. At AusRehab, we check the following boxes and more:
- Multiple test locations across NSW
- On-site testing available in the Sydney metro area
- Conducted by qualified testing professionals
- Conducted in accordance with AS/NZS 1269.4 (occupational noise management) standards to ensure compliance and accuracy
- Rapid turnaround time
Book your workplace hearing test with AusRehab today, and rest assured that we’ll deliver the work health and safety results you need.
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