Noise-Induced Hearing Loss and Audiometry Testing at Work

The slow, invisible injury

Noise-induced hearing loss is one of the most common, and most preventable, workplace injuries in Australia. It develops slowly and painlessly, often over years, and by the time a worker notices the damage it is permanent. That is why hearing surveillance is a legal requirement for workers exposed to hazardous noise, not an optional extra.

When is audiometric testing required?

Under Australian WHS law, employers must provide audiometric testing for workers who are required to use personal hearing protection because of exposure to noise that exceeds the exposure standard. Testing should begin within three months of a worker starting a noisy role (a baseline), and be repeated at least every two years, more frequently for higher-risk exposures.

What an audiometry test involves

Audiometry is a quick, non-invasive hearing test. The worker wears headphones in a quiet booth or screening environment and responds to tones at different frequencies and volumes. The results are plotted on an audiogram, which shows the softest sounds the worker can hear at each frequency. Comparing audiograms over time is what reveals a developing hearing loss, a single test only shows a point in time.

The value of a true baseline

A meaningful surveillance program starts with an accurate baseline. If a worker's hearing is tested after they have already been in a noisy role for years, the baseline already includes any early damage. Testing early, ideally before exposure begins, means later changes can be confidently attributed to the workplace, which protects both the worker and the employer.

More than compliance

A strong hearing surveillance program does more than tick a box:

• Early detection, picks up threshold shifts before they become disabling.
• Evidence of due diligence, demonstrates you are monitoring and managing the risk.
• Better controls, recurring patterns may point to problems with noise controls or hearing protection in a particular area.
• Lower compensation exposure, documented baselines help distinguish work-related loss from age-related or non-work loss.

Making recall work

The most common failure in hearing surveillance is not the testing itself, it is the recall. Baselines are done but periodic reviews slip through the gaps. Work Plus Health manages recall scheduling automatically, so two-yearly reviews actually happen, with reminders, booking and reporting handled in one place across our 37 WA clinics and national affiliate network.