Hearing loss from workplace noise is one of the most common – and most preventable – occupational health issues. In Queensland, audiometric (hearing) testing is not just a best practice; in many situations it is a legal requirement under the Managing noise and preventing hearing loss at work Code of Practice 2011 and the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011.
With the right approach, you can turn a compliance obligation into a powerful tool for protecting your people, improving safety, and reducing long term costs. This guide walks you through who must be tested, when, and how to build a compliant, efficient audiometric testing program in Queensland.
The Legal Framework: Why Audiometric Testing Is Mandatory in Queensland
In 2011, a national Code of Practice titled Managing noise and preventing hearing loss at work was introduced. While the Code applies Australia wide, Queensland elected to transition the requirements from 1 January 2014.
From that date, Queensland employers have been legally required to provide audiometric testing for certain workers who are exposed to workplace noise. These obligations are supported by the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011, including section 58, which deals specifically with audiometric testing requirements.
Core purpose of the Code of Practice
- Prevent noise induced hearing loss and related health effects.
- Ensure employers identify and manage noise risks systematically.
- Verify that hearing protection is effective for individual workers.
- Provide early warning of hearing damage through regular testing.
By following the Code, you are not only complying with the law but also demonstrating due diligence in protecting your workforce.
Who Must Receive Audiometric Testing in Queensland?
The Code and associated regulations set out clear triggers for when employers must provide audiometric testing. The focus is on workers who are frequently exposed to noise and rely on hearing protectors to keep exposure below the noise exposure standard.
1. Existing workers regularly using hearing PPE
From 1 January 2014, all existing workers who are frequently required to use personal protective equipment (PPE) for exposure to noise must be provided with audiometric testing, except those:
- Employed for less than three months.
In practice, this captures workers whose day to day tasks expose them to potentially harmful noise and who rely on earplugs, earmuffs, or other hearing protectors as a control measure.
2. New workers exposed to workplace noise
New workers who are required to wear hearing protectors due to workplace noise must receive a baseline audiometric test:
- Within three months of starting work.
This early baseline is essential for comparing future results and detecting any changes in hearing over time.
3. Regular retesting for ongoing protection
All workers who fall under the audiometric testing requirements must be:
- Retested at least every two years to monitor changes in hearing.
- Tested when reasonably requested by a health and safety representative of the worker’s designated work group.
This ongoing schedule provides trend data, helping you evaluate the effectiveness of noise controls and hearing protectors over the long term.
4. Mandatory testing when you provide hearing protectors
The Code makes it clear that if you provide hearing protectors to control employees’ exposure so that it does not exceed the noise exposure standard, you must also provide audiometric testing. This is referred to as mandatory audiometric testing.
In other words, if hearing protectors are a key control measure keeping workers’ noise exposure below the standard, you have a legal duty to arrange regular hearing tests for those workers.
Why Compliance Is a Strategic Advantage for Your Business
Meeting audiometric testing obligations does more than tick a regulatory box. Done well, it can deliver strong business and people benefits.
Protecting your workers’ hearing and wellbeing
- Early detection of hearing changes allows you to intervene before damage becomes severe or permanent.
- Better fit and selection of hearing protectors based on actual test results improves protection and comfort.
- Higher worker confidence knowing their hearing is being regularly monitored and protected.
Reducing risk and strengthening legal defensibility
- Documented test results support your risk management and due diligence obligations.
- Compliance with the Code and WHS Regulation lowers the risk of enforcement action, penalties, or disputes.
- Clear evidence of control measures helps you respond effectively to any future claims or investigations.
Improving productivity and communication
- Workers with better hearing are more likely to hear alarms, instructions, and warning signals.
- Reduced miscommunication and errors in noisy environments improves safety and workflow.
- Better worker engagement when people see their employer investing in their long term health.
Choosing a Compliant Audiometric Testing Provider
To fully comply with your obligations and get reliable results, it is important to choose an audiometrictesting.net.au provider that follows recognised standards.
AS/NZS 1269.4:2014 – the key standard for auditory assessment
When arranging testing, employers are advised to ensure the provider complies with the requirements of AS/NZS 1269.4:2014 – Occupational noise management – Auditory assessment. This standard sets out how workplace hearing tests should be conducted.
For best practice and robust compliance, you should:
- Confirm that your provider adheres to AS/NZS 1269.4:2014 for test methods, equipment, and test environments.
- Include compliance with this standard in your service agreement so expectations are clear and documented.
- Ensure testing is carried out by appropriately trained personnel who understand occupational noise and hearing conservation.
Why onsite audiometric testing works so well for businesses
Many Queensland employers now prefer onsite audiometric testing because it reduces disruption and makes it easier to test large or dispersed teams. An effective onsite provider will typically:
- Come to your workplace at times that suit your operations, reducing downtime and travel.
- Accommodate both small and large workforces– from a handful of employees to hundreds across multiple shifts.
- Service metropolitan and remote locations, supporting regional and site based operations.
- Provide clear summary reports and compare results against previous tests to track hearing over time.
- Supply reports formatted for WorkCover and other relevant authorities, simplifying your documentation and claims processes.
This kind of streamlined service helps you stay compliant with minimal administrative burden while giving workers a convenient, professional testing experience.
Understanding Threshold Shifts and Hearing Loss
A key reason for audiometric testing is to identify threshold shifts and hearing loss early, so you can act before they lead to serious safety or health issues.
What is a threshold shift?
A threshold shift refers to a change in a person’s auditory threshold – the softest sound they can hear at specific frequencies. It can be:
- Temporary, resulting in temporary hearing loss that may recover if noise exposure is reduced.
- Permanent, resulting in lasting hearing loss that cannot be reversed.
Regular audiometric testing allows you to spot these shifts over time by comparing current results with the worker’s past tests and baseline.
When hearing loss affects safe work performance
If audiometric testing shows that a worker has sufficient hearing loss to interfere with the safe performance of their work, you must take all reasonably practicable steps to modify the work environment or work arrangements.
Reasonably practicable measures may include:
- Providing volume control on equipment such as telephones so workers can hear clearly without straining.
- Creating acoustically treated meeting or work areas with low background noise and low sound reflections.
- Adding supplementary visual warning signals (for example, flashing lights in addition to audible alarms).
- Considering alternative duties or roles if other measures do not adequately address the safety risk.
These adjustments not only support legal compliance but also help you retain experienced employees and maintain a safe, inclusive workplace.
Building a Compliant Audiometric Testing Program: Step by Step
Transforming the legal requirements into a smooth, repeatable process makes compliance easier and more cost effective. The following steps provide a practical framework.
1. Identify noise exposed roles and tasks
Start by mapping which roles, tasks, or locations involve exposure to hazardous noise or regular use of hearing PPE. Consider:
- Production lines, fabrication areas, and heavy machinery operations.
- Workshops, construction sites, and processing plants.
- Drivers, plant operators, and maintenance staff using noisy tools.
This helps you determine which workers fall under the mandatory audiometric testing requirements.
2. Establish baseline testing for new and existing staff
- New workers who require hearing protectors should receive a baseline test within three months of starting.
- Existing workers who are frequently required to wear hearing PPE should have a baseline test arranged as soon as practicable, if they do not already have one.
These baselines become the reference point for all future comparisons and help you quickly see if a worker’s hearing is deteriorating.
3. Implement a structured retesting schedule
Next, set up a regular schedule that aligns with the Code and your operational needs:
- Routine retesting every two years for all workers within the program.
- Additional testing on request where a health and safety representative reasonably asks for it.
- More frequent testing (if needed) for workers showing early changes or working in very noisy environments, in consultation with your provider.
Automated reminders, integration with your HR systems, and advance scheduling with your testing provider can keep this cycle running smoothly.
4. Engage a compliant provider and define deliverables
When selecting or reviewing an audiometric testing provider, ensure your agreement clearly covers:
- Compliance with AS/NZS 1269.4:2014 for all testing activities.
- Onsite testing arrangements to minimise disruption to operations.
- Provision of individual and summary reports in clear, easy to interpret formats.
- Comparison of test results over time to identify threshold shifts promptly.
- Reports suitable for WorkCover and other authorities, supporting claims management and regulatory reporting.
Clear expectations at the outset help you maintain consistency, quality, and compliance across multiple testing rounds and sites.
5. Act on results and integrate with your noise control strategy
Audiometric testing is only truly effective when the results feed back into your broader noise management program. Use the findings to:
- Review noise risk assessments if multiple workers show similar hearing changes in the same area.
- Verify the effectiveness and fit of hearing protectors; change type or fitting practices if necessary.
- Upgrade engineering controls (for example, shielding, isolation, or quieter equipment) where practicable.
- Update administrative controls such as job rotation or exposure time limits.
- Provide targeted training on using and maintaining hearing protectors correctly.
By treating audiometric testing as part of a continuous improvement loop, you can steadily reduce noise risks across your sites.
6. Communicate with workers and health and safety representatives
Transparent communication builds trust and encourages participation. You can:
- Explain why audiometric testing is required and how it protects workers’ long term health.
- Outline what to expect during testing so workers feel comfortable and informed.
- Provide confidential access to individual results and opportunities for workers to ask questions.
- Consult with health and safety representatives on testing schedules, follow up actions, and any concerns raised by workers.
A well informed workforce is more likely to use hearing protectors correctly, report issues early, and support ongoing noise control initiatives.
Turning Compliance into a Long Term Health and Safety Asset
Under the 2011 Managing noise and preventing hearing loss at work Code of Practice and the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011, Queensland employers have clear duties to provide audiometric testing when workers are frequently exposed to noise and rely on hearing protectors.
By:
- Identifying noise exposed workers accurately.
- Providing baseline and regular retesting.
- Engaging a provider that complies with AS/NZS 1269.4:2014.
- Using onsite testing to minimise disruption and secure WorkCover ready reports.
- Implementing reasonably practicable modifications where hearing loss is detected.
you can create a robust hearing conservation program that protects your people and strengthens your organisation.
A strategic approach to audiometric testing delivers more than compliance: it underpins safer work, better communication, and a healthier, more engaged workforce across your Queensland operations.
