Hearing tests for heavy industry

Agility’s lead Audiology specialist Becky Branston describes 3 reasons employers should invest in regular hearing tests for their employees:

• It’s the law

Hearing loss can be devastating and companies are obliged, by law, to put measures in place to safeguard the hearing of their workforce. Regular testing ensures employers achieve compliance with the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005, which made it a legal requirement for employers to provide regular hearing checks for all employees who are likely to be frequently exposed to noise levels of over 85dB or for any employee who already suffers from hearing loss or is particularly sensitive to noise damage.

• Protect employee health 

In manufacturing, competition for skilled staff is strong so ensuring staff safety is an important part of making them feel valued and in turn, aids retention. The way a company cares for its staff can also influence how they are perceived as an employer – by current staff and prospective employees, as well as by customers.

In workplaces such as production facilities where heavy-duty machinery is in constant operation and workers on the shop-floor are exposed to particularly high levels of noise, there is a legal requirement to provide adequate hearing protection. Regular hearing tests are essential to ensure that the protection measures in place are working effectively. Should tests detect any deterioration in an employee’s hearing, the company can investigate immediately, taking any necessary action.

• Guard against claims 

Dubbed ‘the new whiplash’ by the Association of British Insurers, there has been a marked rise in opportunistic claims for noise induced hearing loss in recent years. Not only do regular hearing tests ensure that a business’s hearing protection measures are working (therefore preventing future claims), they also ensure that data is captured that can be used to effectively track hearing loss in an individual. 

Earlier this year Agility invested in two mobile audiology units in order to meet growing demand from manufacturing and other noisy workplaces to regularly test the hearing of employees quickly, easily and cost-effectively. Equipped with the latest audiometers within a noise-reducing booth, using noise-reducing headphones to give maximum sound reduction, these units enable staff to be tested quickly and accurately, with minimal disruption to the workplace. Each unit can test around 30 people a day, with all data captured for future reference and recommendations to help protect hearing made as part of the service.

Becky Branston said: “We’ve already had a great response to the new mobile unit, as it really helps to minimise disruption to the business and keep costs down. We also cover a wide range of shift patterns at no extra cost, so the team will often be out in the middle of the night or bright and early in the morning, but we know how much our clients value our flexibility.”