Mandatory audiometric testing in NSW workplaces - Important update
The Hon. Victor Dominello MP, Minister for Digital and Minister for Customer Service has approved the commencement of clause 58 of the Work Health and Safety Regulations 2017 (WHS Regulations) requiring Persons Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBUs) to provide audiometric testing to workers. The clause will come into effect on the 1 January 2024, when the current exemption expires.
The clause will affect businesses where workers are required to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) due to the risk of hearing loss associated with noise that exceeds the exposure standard – outlined in clause 56 of the WHS Regulations (85 decibels averaged over an eight hour period, or a peak of 140dBC). In NSW, a hierarchy of controls exist to alleviate the risks of noise in the workplace. This is outlined in the ‘SafeWork NSW Code of Practice for Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss in the Workplace’ (Code of Practice). PPE is one of the controls PCBUs must consider if other control measures have not reduced noise to below the exposure standard.
Clause 58 will only affect those PCBUs whose employees are frequently working in environments where other control measures outlined in the Code of Practice have failed to reduce noise to below the exposure standard. Workers who wear PPE as a personal choice or as an incidental part of their work are not affected by the commencement of the clause.
SafeWork NSW will work with stakeholders to develop and implement guidance material to help PCBUs comply with clause 58. SafeWork NSW will aim to help PCBUs understand their obligations and provide further information on how to comply. SafeWork NSW will seek to help PCBUs to minimise costs associated with audiometric testing through adopting a systematic approach to the use of control measures that would minimise the need for workers to use PPE.
SafeWork NSW will be hosting a briefing at 3:30pm on Wednesday 1 March 2023, to inform the NSW Community of the implementation of Clause 58 from the 1st January 2024. This briefing will be recorded and available on our website for those unable to attend the live event. To attend the live event please register via Eventbrite.
For more information about controlling hazardous noise in the construction industry, please visit the SafeWork NSW website.
If you have any further questions regarding clause 58 please do not hesitate to contact SafeWork NSW at [email protected].
Clause 58 will only affect those PCBUs whose employees are frequently working in environments where other control measures outlined in the Code of Practice have failed to reduce noise to below the exposure standard. Workers who wear PPE as a personal choice or as an incidental part of their work are not affected by the commencement of the clause.
SafeWork NSW will work with stakeholders to develop and implement guidance material to help PCBUs comply with clause 58. SafeWork NSW will aim to help PCBUs understand their obligations and provide further information on how to comply. SafeWork NSW will seek to help PCBUs to minimise costs associated with audiometric testing through adopting a systematic approach to the use of control measures that would minimise the need for workers to use PPE.
SafeWork NSW will be hosting a briefing at 3:30pm on Wednesday 1 March 2023, to inform the NSW Community of the implementation of Clause 58 from the 1st January 2024. This briefing will be recorded and available on our website for those unable to attend the live event. To attend the live event please register via Eventbrite.
For more information about controlling hazardous noise in the construction industry, please visit the SafeWork NSW website.
If you have any further questions regarding clause 58 please do not hesitate to contact SafeWork NSW at [email protected].
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