Do you need workplace hearing tests?

As an employer, it is your legal responsibility to provide health surveillance in the form of hearing tests if:

• The noise level in your workplace exceeds the upper exposure value of 85dB(A)
• An employee has a predisposed risk to noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL)

Workplace hearing tests help you to fulfil your legal requirements by:

• Identifying employees that show early signs of hearing damage
• Providing an opportunity to prevent hearing damage from getting worse
• Checking the effectiveness of existing control measures

Pre-employment audiometry testing should take place to establish a baseline of hearing, followed by annual testing for the first two years of employment. Audiometry may then be carried out over three yearly intervals. Where a hearing abnormality is identified or the risk of hearing damage is high audiometry may be carried out more frequently.