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• 1. What is noise?
• 2. Responsibilities
• 3. Noise assessments
• 4. How should noise be managed?
• 5. What are noise control measures?
  • 5.1 Elimination - new plant and workplaces
  • 5.2 Engineering controls - existing plant and workplaces
  • 5.3 Administrative noise control measures
  • 5.4 Personal hearing protectors
• 6. Audiometric testing
• Appendix 1 - extract from the Workplace Health and Safety Regulation 1997
• Appendix 2 – Obligations under the Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995
• Appendix 3 – Noise hazard identification checklist
• Appendix 4 – Instruments for assessing noise levels
• Appendix 5 – Guidance material
• Appendix 6 – Ototoxins
• Appendix 7 – Acoustic shock
• Appendix 8 – Dictionary

More about noise

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6. Audiometric testing

Testing scheme
Assessment of audiograms
Test results
Action to be taken when threshold shifts are detected
Updating of reference audiograms
Records
Further information

The hearing of workers exposed to noise can be monitored through regular audiometric examinations. Audiometric testing is when a person’s hearing threshold levels are measured by monaural pure tone air conduction threshold tests. While testing is not a preventive mechanism in itself, and is only relevant in the context of a comprehensive hearing conservation program, it is an important part of managing the risks from noise exposure at the workplace. Any changes in a person’s hearing levels revealed by audiometric testing should be investigated as to their cause(s) and the need for corrective action. An audiometric testing program should be available to any worker likely to be regularly at risk from exposure to excessive noise levels at work.

Note: As a precautionary measure the audiometric testing program could also be made available to workers exposed to workplace ototoxins or acoustic incidents. See appendix 6 and appendix 7.

Testing scheme

All testing should be done by an appropriately trained and experienced person, who is selected by management in consultation with workers and workplace health and safety representatives at the workplace. A person who carries out audiometric testing should use procedures and equipment that comply with part 4 of
AS/NZS 1269 Occupational Noise Management - Noise control management (non-Queensland Government link).

The audiometric testing scheme should include an initial reference test, with periodic monitoring audiometric testing to follow. The initial reference audiogram¹⁶ should be taken before exposure to noise occurs or as soon as the worker starts work. Monitoring audiometric testing should be conducted within 3 months of beginning work, for comparison with the initial reference audiogram,¹⁶ and then 12 months of the initial work exposure. In the absence of significant threshold shift or change in the work situation, it may then be sufficient to repeat the test at yearly intervals.

Note: At high daily noise exposure level (e.g. > 100dB(A)) more frequent audiometric testing may be desirable. Monitoring audiometric testing should be scheduled well into the work shift so that comparison with the reference audiogram will reveal any temporary threshold shift due to inadequacies in the use of personal hearing protectors.

Each worker’s hearing, and the correct type of personal hearing protectors for the job, should be discussed with that worker. Proper fitting of personal hearing protectors should be ensured at the completion of the examination. Instructions on their use should be repeated at future audiometric testing sessions.

Assessment of audiograms

Audiograms should be assessed and action taken in accordance with section 9 of Part 4 of AS/NZS 1269 Occupational Noise Management - Noise control management (non-Queensland Government link).

When workers are found to have sufficient hearing loss to interfere with the safe performance of their jobs and communication, all practicable steps should be taken to modify the work environment such as volume control telephones, acoustically treated meeting areas with low noise and low reverberation, and supplementary visual warning signals. Where these cannot remedy the situation, workers should be offered alternative work that does not put them at risk to excessive noise.

Test results

Workers should be requested to have a further audiometric examination when the deterioration in hearing threshold level between the initial reference audiogram and any later monitoring audiogram show:

• a shift in average threshold at 3000, 4000, or 6000Hz greater than or equal to 5dB, in either ear; or
• a change in mean threshold greater than or equal to 10dB at 3000 and 4000Hz, in either ear; or
• a change in mean threshold shift greater than or equal to 15dB at 6000Hz, in either ear; or
• a threshold shift greater than or equal to 15dB at 500, 1000, 1500, or 2000Hz, in either ear; or
• a threshold shift greater than or equal to 20dB at 8000Hz, in either ear.

The audiometric examination should occur on another day, after 16 hours in quiet (less than 75 dB[A]) conditions. If the threshold shift is confirmed the worker should be referred for specialist audiological or medical advice concerning the cause of the shift.

If, following referral, future audiograms reveal additional deterioration equalling or exceeding 5 dB at 3000 Hz, 4000 Hz or 6000 Hz, the worker should be referred for further specialist audiological or medical advice. If future tests reveal no additional deterioration no referral is necessary. If the characteristics of hearing loss are consistent with exposure to noise, the worker’s noise exposure and hearing protection should be assessed.

Accumulated deterioration in hearing from the initial reference audiogram discovered over multiple tests should be referred for specialist audiological or medical advice. For example if an audiometric test revealed deterioration of 4 dB at 3000Hz from initial testing and a subsequent test 12 months later revealed a further 4 dB deterioration then a total of 8 dB deterioration at 3000Hz has occurred in 2 years. A referral is therefore required as a shift greater than 5dB has occurred since the initial reference audiogram was taken.

Results should be given to workers by the appropriately trained and experienced person either immediately or as soon as practical of the audiometric testing. Results should be accompanied by a written explanation which can be easily understood. This should help the worker understand what the results mean and if there are any implications. Test results are confidential and consideration to the storage and communication of this information should be given.

Individual results should be given to other parties only with the written permission of the worker. Unidentifiable individual results and group data should be accessible to the relevant employer, workplace health and safety representative(s) and the relevant authority for the development or assessment of noise control policies.

Action to be taken when threshold shifts are detected

When temporary or permanent threshold shifts are revealed by audiometric tests or new tinnitus reported, action should be taken to inform the responsible obligation holder to arrange to:

• review the worker’s job to identify any changes that may have caused an increase in exposure to noise;
• re-determine exposure to noise, if necessary;
• determine whether anything can be done to reduce the levels of noise to which the worker is exposed and the durations of exposure;
• verify the nominal performance of the worker’s hearing protector is adequate for the level of exposure to noise;
• examine the hearing protector carefully and ensure it is not worn or damaged;
• check the worker is able to fit the hearing protector properly;
• check the hearing protector fits the worker closely and there are no leakage paths;
• ask the worker if he or she has any difficulty using the hearing protector;
• check the worker actually uses the hearing protector correctly; and
• deal with any problems revealed by the above procedures, calling on expert advice as necessary.

Updating of reference audiograms

The reference audiogram should be updated whenever a significant permanent threshold shift has occurred or every ten years, whichever occurs sooner. After a significant permanent threshold shift has been found and medically assessed, the employer, or other obligation holder, should ensure that an updated reference audiogram is obtained for the worker. Subsequent monitoring audiograms should then be compared with the most recent reference audiogram. Records of previous reference audiograms should be retained.

Records

Where audiometric test records of workers are given to the employer, they should be kept for the worker’s period of employment. The records should be kept in a safe, secure place and held as ‘confidential’ documents during the worker’s period of employment. When a worker’s period of employment ends, those records should be given to the worker.

Further information

Further information can be found in Part 4 of AS/NZS 1269 Occupational Noise Management - Noise control management (non-Queensland Government link)

¹⁶ 'audiogram' means a chart or table relating a person's hearing threshold levels for pure tones to frequency.

Last updated 22 July 2008

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