The most common preventable cause of occupational hearing loss is noise exposure. It is irreversible once acquired and can have a big impact on a worker’s life. Workers’ compensation claims can also be costly and detrimental to firms’ reputations.
In many jurisdictions of Australia, workers in noisy workplaces are required to have their hearing checked (audiometric testing) within three months of starting work and then every two years thereafter.
Candidates who have previously worked in noisy environments should have their hearing tested as part of a pre-employment medical. These are called Pre-Employment Hearing Tests.
To get the most accurate results, a quiet period of 16 hours (free from noisy work sites, light airline travel, loud stereo use, etc.) is recommended.
