The best way to prevent noise-induced hearing loss on a construction site is to remove or reduce the noise at its source, limit how long people are exposed, and use hearing protection as the last layer rather than the first. In Queensland the law also sets a limit: the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld) defines the exposure standard for noise as an LAeq,8h of 85 dB(A) or an LC,peak of 140 dB(C).
Working in construction can be a lot of fun. You get to work with your hands, use power tools, and see the fruits of your labour come to life. However, working in construction can also be dangerous. One of the common hazards of this job is noise-induced hearing loss. In this blog post, we will discuss how to prevent noise-induced hearing loss from construction.
Why does construction cause hearing loss?
The main reason that construction causes hearing loss is because of the exposure to loud noise. Construction sites are full of loud machines and equipment. When these machines are used, they produce a lot of noise. This noise can damage your hearing if you are exposed to it for too long.
Hazardous noise damages the hair cells in the inner ear. At first your hearing may recover after time away from noise, but with repeated exposure the loss becomes permanent, and the approved code notes that these cells cannot be repaired by any presently known medical treatment. Early signs include speech that sounds muffled, trouble following a conversation when there is background noise, and tinnitus (ringing in the ears). Very loud impact noise, such as sledge-hammering, can cause permanent damage almost instantly.
How much noise is too much depends on how loud it is and how long you are exposed. The decibel scale is logarithmic, so every 3 dB increase in level means the same damage in half the time. The approved Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss at Work Code of Practice 2021 shows how long a person without hearing protection can be exposed before the 85 dB(A) standard is exceeded:
| Noise level | Time before the standard is exceeded |
|---|---|
| 85 dB(A) | 8 hours |
| 88 dB(A) | 4 hours |
| 91 dB(A) | 2 hours |
| 94 dB(A) | 1 hour |
| 97 dB(A) | 30 minutes |
| 100 dB(A) | 15 minutes |
The code lists typical levels such as a lawnmower at about 90 dB(A), a chainsaw at about 110 dB(A) and a rock drill at about 120 dB(A). As a rule of thumb, if you need to raise your voice to talk to someone about one metre away, the noise is likely to be hazardous to hearing.
What the Queensland WHS Regulation says about noise
Section 56 of the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld) says the exposure standard for noise, in relation to a person, means:
- LAeq,8h of 85 dB(A); or
- LC,peak of 140 dB(C).
LAeq,8h is the eight-hour equivalent continuous A-weighted sound pressure level in decibels (dB(A)) referenced to 20 micropascals. LC,peak is the C-weighted peak sound pressure level in decibels (dB(C)) referenced to 20 micropascals. Section 56 says both are determined in accordance with AS/NZS 1269.1:2005 (Occupational noise management—Measurement and assessment of noise immission and exposure), and the approved code says a noise assessment should be done by a competent person.
The Regulation then sets these duties:
- Manage the risk. Section 57(1) says a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) at a workplace must manage, under part 3.1, the risks to health and safety relating to hearing loss associated with noise. That means identifying the hazard (section 34), eliminating the risk so far as is reasonably practicable and otherwise minimising it (section 35), using the hierarchy of control measures (section 36), and maintaining and reviewing those controls (sections 37 and 38). Our guides to identifying hazards and hazard versus risk explain the process.
- Stay under the standard. Section 57(2) says the PCBU must ensure that the noise a worker is exposed to at the workplace does not exceed the exposure standard for noise.
- Test hearing where protectors are needed. Section 58 requires audiometric testing for certain workers (see below).
- Buy quieter plant. Section 59 requires designers and manufacturers of plant to make sure its noise emission is as low as is reasonably practicable. Designers, manufacturers, importers and suppliers must also provide, or take all reasonable steps to pass on, information about the plant’s noise emission. Ask for it when you buy or hire.
The standard is a limit, not a guarantee of safety. The approved code says it protects most but not all people, so keep noise below it where reasonably practicable. Under section 26A of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld) (WHS Act), a PCBU must comply with an approved code of practice or manage the risk in a way that provides an equivalent or higher standard, and a court may have regard to the code as evidence of what is known about a hazard, risk or control and rely on it in deciding what is reasonably practicable (section 275).
Control measures employers can take to protect employees from hearing loss
There are some control measures that employers can take to help prevent noise-induced hearing loss from construction. Section 36 of the Regulation says to work through the hierarchy of control measures, starting with the most effective:
- Eliminate or substitute. Stop the noisy task or choose a quieter way of doing it. Buy or hire the quietest plant that does the job, and lower materials instead of dropping them on hard surfaces.
- Isolate. Put distance, barriers or enclosures between the noise source and people, or run noisy plant by remote control. In open space, sound drops by about 6 dB each time the distance from the source doubles.
- Engineering controls. Fit mufflers and silencers and add damping to reduce noise at the source. Make sure machines and equipment are well maintained and in good working condition. Worn bearings, blunt blades and loose parts make machines noisier.
- Administrative controls. Plan work so that employees are not exposed to loud noise for extended periods of time. Schedule noisy work when few people are around, tell others in advance, rotate jobs and provide quiet areas for breaks. These rely on people and supervision, so check they are being followed.
- Hearing protection. Provide earplugs or other hearing protection devices for employees. Use them where the risk cannot be controlled by better measures, as an interim measure, or as extra protection.
- Training. Provide training on how to properly use and maintain hearing protection devices. Also explain how hearing is damaged, which tasks are noisy and how to use the noise controls.
Hearing protection: getting it right
Where PPE is used to minimise a risk, section 44 of the Regulation says the PCBU who directs the work must provide it, unless another PCBU has. It must suit the work and the hazard, be a suitable size and fit, be reasonably comfortable, and be kept clean and in good working order. The worker must also be given information, training and instruction in using, wearing, storing and maintaining it. Workers cannot be charged for it (section 273 of the WHS Act). Under section 46, workers must use or wear the equipment as trained, must not intentionally misuse or damage it, and must tell the PCBU about any damage or defect.
The approved code adds that protectors need to be worn for the whole time you are exposed. It gives an example where one hour without protectors in an eight-hour day drops the maximum protection from 30 dB to 9 dB. It also recommends signposting hearing protector areas so that workers, managers and visitors know when protectors are required.
Audiometric (hearing) testing
Section 58 of the Regulation applies to a worker the PCBU requires to use PPE to protect against the risk of hearing loss from noise that exceeds the exposure standard. The PCBU must provide audiometric testing for that worker within 3 months of the worker starting the work and, in any event, at least every 2 years. Audiometric testing means testing the hearing threshold levels of each ear using pure tone air conduction threshold tests.
Section 58 was repealed from the Queensland Regulation in the past and later put back, so some older articles still say Queensland has no audiometric testing duty. It is in the current Regulation and applies now. Section 797 of the Regulation gave PCBUs a one-year delay before section 58(2) applied, and that delay has ended. For a worker who started the noise work before the delay ended, the 3-month requirement does not apply, but the 2-year testing cycle does.
The approved code says you organise and pay for the testing, consult your workers first, and give each worker the results with a written explanation. It recommends a baseline test before people are exposed, and says to review your controls if testing shows a shift in hearing or a worker reports tinnitus.
How can you prevent hearing loss from construction?
- You should always wear ear protection. This can be in the form of earplugs or earmuffs. Wear it for the whole time you are in a noisy area, and every time you are in a marked hearing protector area.
- Try to avoid working near loud construction equipment. If you must work near this equipment, make sure to take breaks often and stay as far away from the equipment as possible.
- Make sure to take care of your hearing. This means getting regular hearing checkups and avoiding exposure to loud noises when you are not working.
- Check that your protectors fit properly and are in good condition. Tell your supervisor if they are damaged, uncomfortable or not doing the job.
- Speak up about noisy plant or tasks. Your supervisor or health and safety representative can raise it, and a regular toolbox meeting is a good place to discuss it.
When to see a doctor about your hearing
Noise-induced hearing loss is a permanent condition. Once you have this condition, it cannot be cured. However, there are treatments that can help you manage the symptoms and prevent further damage to your hearing. If you think that you might have noise-induced hearing loss, be sure to see a doctor right away so you can get started on treatment. Common warning signs include ringing in the ears, muffled speech and trouble following conversations in noisy places.
Hearing loss is a condition that will affect the rest of your life, so it’s important to be as proactive as possible in preventing it. By following the tips in this blog post, you can help prevent this type of injury. If you think that you might have noise-induced hearing loss, be sure to see a doctor right away.
Templates and related guides
Our Noise Management Policy Template and Personal Protective Equipment Policy Template help you set out your rules, and the Free Risk Assessment Template helps you record the risk and the controls. For more on managing noise day to day, read noise management in construction.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Check the current law or talk to Workplace Health and Safety Queensland for your situation.
This Post Is Part Of A Series: 101 Toolbox Topic Ideas For The Construction Industry
Do you struggle to come up with toolbox talk ideas each week to discuss with your workers? Fear no more, Work Safety QLD is here to the rescue with 101 Free Toolbox Talk Ideas for the Construction Industry.
Templates for this job
Ready-to-edit Word and Excel templates for Queensland workplaces.
