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MEDIA RELEASE 17 October 2024

Time to make a noise about workplace hearing damage as 11 per cent of Australians experience it, new Hearing Australia research reveals

Almost 25 per cent of Australians know someone suffering workplace-related hearing damage but one-in-three give little thought to protecting their own hearing, new research¹ from Hearing Australia shows. This is despite 11 per cent experiencing damage from workplace noise themselves¹. And it’s prompting Hearing Australia to urge everyone to prioritise hearing health – at work and play.

“³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Safe Work Month (October) reminds us that we must look after our hearing,” says Hearing Australia Principal Audiologist, Karen Hirschausen. “The ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Safe Work Month theme states that safety is everyone’s business – and not just in the workplace; hearing damage can also occur outside work. Our research¹ found that more than one-in-five respondents have either experienced hearing damage from leisure activities or know someone who has.”

Hearing Australia’s national survey¹ also revealed:

• Only one-in-four Australians think about hearing protection and use it at work or when undertaking noisy activities during their leisure time.
• About a quarter of respondents know someone who has experienced workplace noise-related hearing damage.
• Australian women appear to think less about protecting their hearing than men.

• Millennials (people in their late twenties to early forties) appear to be more concerned about their appearance than their hearing, with one-in-four saying that they’d be too embarrassed to wear earplugs or earmuffs in a loud environment like a concert.

“These statistics are a real concern,” says Karen. “Hearing is such an important sense but more than 1.1 million Australians² are exposed to hazardous noise in their workplace. Noise-induced hearing loss is one of the most common occupational diseases³ but it’s also one of the most preventable.”

Certain leisure activities can also be very noisy and potentially risk hearing damage. “What our research¹ found is that many people don’t fully understand the risk to their hearing in a nightclub or concert, and they overestimate the length of time they can spend in these noisy environments without hearing protection before risking hearing damage.” Karen says.

“It’s important that when people are in loud environments like this, they take steps to protect their hearing, such as having regular breaks and moving away from speakers.”

Wider health hazards – and which businesses are at risk

In its ⁴ report, the ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Acoustic Laboratories (NAL), Hearing Australia’s research division, found high noise levels in workplaces are associated with stress, headaches, tinnitus, fatigue and increased absenteeism – and have the potential to cause increased heart-rate, higher blood pressure and a greater risk of cardiovascular disease.

In addition, NAL found mitigating noise exposure isn’t a high priority for employers, employees or regulators. “Small to medium-sized businesses appear to be at greater risk of noise exposure⁵,” says Karen. “Safe Work Australia research⁵ found that within SMEs, there’s insufficient knowledge of the effects and the impact of loud noise on people’s hearing and quality of life. There also appears to be little consideration given to the benefits of noise control.”

The main industries at risk of exceeding Australia’s noise exposure standard⁶ are mining, manufacturing, construction, farming and the Defence Force, according to NAL⁴. “But there are other industries, such as hospitality, entertainment and retail, which are also exposed to loud noise,” says Karen.

Kim Terrell, Hearing Australia’s Managing Director, adds: “Nobody should lose their hearing because of the work they do. Hearing Australia is committed to helping prevent avoidable hearing loss in the workplace. And we believe more needs to be done to protect workers in high-risk industries such as construction, manufacturing and agriculture.”

Sound solutions for improvement

Karen believes workplace laws that stipulate noise-exposed workers should have their hearing tested when they start work, and then at two-yearly intervals, should be reinforced.

“More broadly, we also encourage people to use smartphone noise apps to track their own noise exposure,” she says. “These apps can be a powerful tool for behavioural change, as you receive real-time feedback if a noise is too loud, so you can adjust your behaviour or the noise. It’s likely to drive greater awareness of sound levels in general.

“If you’re in environments where you’re exposed to loud noise, you should have your hearing checked regularly. And if you have any concerns or experience changes in your hearing, you should also see an audiologist. Hearing Australia has expert audiologists available across the country providing care and support so people can experience better hearing health.”