As one of your five sense, you could say that your hearing is pretty important.. and you would be right! Hearing is a gift, it gifts us with the ability to easily communicate, to enjoy our favourite songs, become engrossed in movies and adds to the experience of live. Once this sense is gone, though, it’s gone (well, unless you go on a deep healing journey with the likes of someone like Dr Joe Dispenza). Either way, it’s vital that if you are working in a high-noise industry that you are protecting your hearing, with the right PPE and tracking your ear health along the way.
Noise-induced hearing loss is one of the most common occupational health issues in many industries such as construction, manufacturing and mining due to the high levels of noise which staff are exposed to, it’s also entirely preventable. Protecting your hearing as a worker, or protecting your staff members hearing as a PCBU is vital, so let’s dive into how and why you should do that..
What the NSW WHS Regulations Say
The section you want to dive into is Section 58 of the Work Health and Safety (WHS) Regulations 2017. This section explain that employers are required to provide audiometric testing for any employee who is regularly exposed to noise levels that exceed the “exposure standard”.
So what is the exposure standard…? Great Question!
The exposure standard for noise is defined as 85 dB(A) averaged over an 8-hour period or a peak noise level of 140 dB(C) – which is where Occupational Noise Assessments come in, so you can define the levels of noise in your workplace environment. If your employees are required to wear hearing protection due to these noise levels or greater coming back in the assessment, then not only is audiometric testing is mandatory within the first three months of the employee’s engagement and then at least every two years thereafter, but you will also know the exact level of hearing protection your staff members need to be wearing. AKA no more over or under protection in your workplace! *High Five!*
Why Regular Testing Matters
Simply put, regular audiometric testing matters because it allows for early detection of hearing loss. Early detection is critical for taking preventative measures, such as adjusting workplace practices or improving hearing protection strategies and assigning fit for purpose PPE to your staff. Without regular testing, hearing damage could go unnoticed for years, which is when it becomes severe and irreversible – not what anyone wants.
This is why we offer the services we do, to not only provide comprehensive audiometric testing services that are fully compliant with Australian Standard AS/NZS 1269.4:2014, which outlines the procedures for assessing hearing and managing noise in the workplace but also Occupational Noise Assessments, as well as Fit For Purpose PPE solutions. Our mobile testing vehicles are equipped with state-of-the-art hearing booths, allowing us to bring these essential services directly to your worksite, minimizing downtime and disruption.
Steps to Protect Hearing in the Workplace
- Conduct a Noise Assessment. Once you conduct your Occupational Noise Assessment, you will know exactly what noise levels you are working with, which areas of your business are loudest and will therefore be able to adapt adequate engineering, administrative and PPE controls to ensure a safer working environment for all.
- Provide Correct Hearing Protection. Following receiving the Noise Assessment report, you will know your exact noise levels and will be able to provide suitable hearing protection for your employees. This should be paired with training on correct use. This might include earplugs, earmuffs, or noise-cancelling headsets.
- Conduct Audiometric Testing. Schedule regular audiometric tests for all employees who are exposed to high noise levels and review comparative data once consecutive tests have been completed.
- Review and Improve. As your work changes, so could your noise levels, which is why 5 yearly reviews of your noise levels are required to keep your strategies up to date, and your employees safe.
Keeping Your and Your Staff Safe
If you follow the above steps you are able to ensure that your staff are able to not only stay safe at work, but also enjoy all aspects of their life once they leave too! Happy, healthy people is the ultimate goal, because the ripple effect of that leads to an engaged productive workplace too.
Finding the right occupational testing partner ensures that you are able to uphold your obligations and remain compliant with your duties of providing a safe environment for everyone. At Hayden it is our goal to partner with you to ensure the safest worksite possible for your staff, we pride ourselves on going the extra mile to not only conduct the tests for your staff but to support and educate them as we test.
Protecting your employees from noise-induced hearing loss is an ongoing process that requires diligence and regular monitoring, but don’t worry, we’ve got you! Together, lets work together to ensure your workplace remains compliant with WHS regulations and that your employees’ hearing is protected and that everyone is getting home with top not hearing.
