Code of Practice — Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss

The full title is the Code of Practice: Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss at Work, published by Safe Work Australia. The code becomes legally binding from 1 July 2026 under Section 26A of the WHS Act. The code applies to all workplaces where workers are exposed to noise at or above the exposure standard of LAeq,8h 85 dB(A) or Lpeak 140 dB(C). The code covers noise hazard identification, noise exposure assessment including personal dosimetry and static noise surveys, the hierarchy of controls applied to noise with emphasis on engineering solutions, hearing protection selection and fitting, audiometric testing requirements, and the management of combined noise and ototoxic chemical exposure. The code references AS/NZS 1269 for detailed technical requirements including audiometric testing procedures, hearing protector selection, and noise measurement methodology.

The code applies to every PCBU whose workers are exposed to noise at or above the exposure standard or peak noise level. Construction companies using power tools, pneumatic equipment, and heavy plant are covered. Manufacturing businesses operating stamping presses, milling machines, grinders, and compressors must comply. Mining operations with drilling, blasting, crushing, and hauling activities are captured. Entertainment and hospitality venues with amplified music must manage noise exposure for performers, bar staff, and security personnel. Agricultural businesses operating tractors, harvesters, and grain handling equipment are covered. The code also applies to workplaces where noise exposure is below the standard but workers are concurrently exposed to ototoxic substances, because the combined effect can cause hearing loss at noise levels that would not damage hearing alone.

The code requires PCBUs to identify all noise sources in the workplace and assess worker exposure using personal noise dosimetry or representative static measurements. Noise assessments must be conducted by a competent person using calibrated instruments and must capture the full range of noise exposure across a representative work period. Where exposure exceeds the standard, controls must follow the hierarchy — elimination of the noise source, substitution with quieter equipment, engineering controls such as enclosures, barriers, and damping, administrative controls including job rotation and scheduling, and hearing protection as the last resort. Audiometric testing must be provided to all workers exposed above the standard, with baseline testing before exposure commences and periodic testing at intervals not exceeding two years. The code requires that audiometric results be reviewed by an audiologist or occupational physician who can identify early hearing threshold shifts and recommend intervention. A hearing conservation program must be documented and reviewed annually.

First, commission a comprehensive noise survey of all work areas using calibrated sound level meters and personal dosimeters, and map noise exposure levels across the workplace to identify areas and tasks that exceed the 85 dB(A) exposure standard. Second, review current noise controls against the hierarchy and identify opportunities for engineering solutions such as quieter equipment procurement, machine enclosures, vibration isolation mounts, and acoustic barriers that reduce exposure at the source. Third, update the hearing protection program to ensure that hearing protectors are selected based on the noise spectrum at each workstation, individually fitted, and maintained in accordance with manufacturer instructions, with attenuation verified through fit-testing where available. Fourth, verify that the audiometric testing program covers all exposed workers, that baseline tests are completed before exposure commences, and that periodic tests are conducted at maximum two-year intervals with results reviewed by a qualified audiologist. Fifth, integrate noise management with chemical exposure management for workers exposed to ototoxic substances, ensuring that combined risk assessments drive hearing conservation measures.

Noise-induced hearing loss develops progressively and irreversibly, meaning that by the time hearing damage is detected through audiometric testing, the harm is permanent. After 1 July 2026, failure to follow the code constitutes a standalone offence. Category 2 penalties of up to $1,731,500 for a body corporate apply where workers are exposed to noise above the standard without adequate controls. The cumulative cost of workers' compensation claims for hearing loss across a workforce can be substantial, as each affected worker is entitled to compensation for permanent impairment. Improvement notices are commonly issued for workplaces without hearing conservation programs, and the administrative burden of retrospectively implementing audiometric testing, noise surveys, and engineering controls is significantly greater than establishing these programs proactively. Businesses that implement the code benefit from reduced hearing loss claims, improved communication and safety in noisy environments, and demonstration of due diligence.