The SafeWork SA campaign was triggered following ReturnToWorkSA data that showed noise induced hearing loss claims and pending claims had risen from 768 in 2018 to 1435 in the first nine months of 2023 – an increase of 90 per cent.

Construction, manufacturing and transport are the most significantly impacted industries.

The campaign involved conducting compliance audits with a focus on hazardous noise risk management, health monitoring systems and employee training on the risks and correct use of personal protective equipment (PPE).

Over an eight-month period, SafeWork SA inspectors visited 80 businesses in the construction, manufacturing, transport, mining, dry cleaning, and lift servicing industries in metropolitan Adelaide and regional South Australia.

During the audits, SafeWork SA inspectors assessed how noise was being managed to prevent hearing loss among workers, in accordance with the work health and safety regulations.

Common themes identified during the campaign included businesses ‘offering’ PPE to workers in circumstances when it should have been mandatory and only providing audiometric testing as part of a pre-employment activity, with no follow up.

A number of businesses were also incorrectly using spot measures to assess noise hazards when there was a requirement to conduct personal monitoring over a duration of time.

A total of 32 statutory notices were issued where non-compliance was identified during the audits. Failure to conduct audiometric testing (14) and failure to manage the risk of noise exposure (11) were the main reasons for the issuing of the notices.  All but one of the improvement notices have now been complied with. SafeWork SA is working with the business to reach compliance with the outstanding notice.

Noise exposure is the most common preventable cause of occupational hearing loss and whilst preventable, once acquired it is irreversible.

The Australian Work Health and Safety Strategy 2023-2033 has set a target to reduce the frequency of permanent impairment claims, such as hearing loss injury by 15 per cent.

Under the Work Health and Safety Act and Regulations 2012 (SA), businesses must provide audiometric (hearing) testing for a worker if they are required to frequently use personal hearing protectors as a control measure for noise that exceeds the exposure standard. This testing must take place within the first three months of their employment and then every two years.

Without these tests, it is difficult for employers to determine the efficiency of noise exposure controls they have implemented in the workplace.

The use of personal hearing protection is a lower form of control and business owners must first look at other ways to eliminate, or minimise noise exposure through higher order controls, such as substitution of noisy machinery or sound proofing.

SafeWork SA will continue to educate businesses about noise-related risks in the workplace and monitor for compliance with the WHS legislation.

Quotes attributable to SafeWork SA Executive Director Glenn Farrell

Given the often long latency of noise induced hearing loss, there is an ongoing need for education among employers of their obligations with respect to noise levels both in terms of assessing the risks, implementing higher-order control measures, where practical, and monitoring the health of their employees.

We will remain vigilant beyond the campaign by continuing to conduct noise audits at businesses as part of our visits to sites where noise hazards are present.