Changes to WHS Regulations for worker hearing protection

2 February 2024

All businesses need to comply (or transition to comply) with changes to the WHS Regulation for hearing protection for workers that frequently use personal hearing protection.

Persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs) should be aware of the Work Health & Safety Regulation for hearing protection - namely, the requirement for baseline and follow up testing of relevant workers.

All states (excluding WA which is in transition) require that PCBUs provide audiometric testing for workers who frequently use personal protective equipment (hearing protection) to protect them from the risk of noise-induced hearing loss where their exposure to noise in the workplace exceeds the exposure standard.

Accordingly, a PCBU must provide audiometric testing for a worker within three months of the worker commencing work where hearing protection is required, and regularly follow up at least every two years.

WA businesses:

The transitional arrangements to comply with the change to the Work Health & Safety Regulation for hearing protection for workers that are frequently required to use hearing personal protection ends on 31 March 2024, when Regulation 58 of the Work Health and Safety (General) Regulations 2022 will come into effect requiring PCBUs to provide audiometric testing for affected workers.

Further information: