Whether we like it or not, industrial and construction workers are susceptible to loud noises at their workplaces. Although it’s their job to work in industrial areas where heavy machinery operates hours per day, everyday exposure to intense noises can lead to irreversible hearing damage. This is why the workers must know about the hearing protection safety measures.

Hearing loss can affect your work and wellbeing, as has been proven in court via payout precedents and which Alberta’s worker compensation program covers. Whether workers insist on it or not, it’s of critical importance and mandated by law to implement a safe workplace for industrial workers that can prevent industrial hearing loss in the work field. Let’s explore how employers can do that.

What Is A Hearing Conservation Program?

Workplace hearing loss due to higher, prolonged noise happens in several industries. Those working in the fields of military, transportation, utilities, manufacturing, construction, mining, agriculture, and more are especially susceptible to hearing loss due to the loud noise hazards in their workplaces.

Alberta OH&S has mandated hearing conservation program requirements for workplaces with noise hazards to prevent workplace injuries. This program is required for employees whose eight-hour work time exceeds or is equal to the average sound level of eighty-five decibels on the scale. If your workers face that much noise regularly, you need a safety program in place.

What Goes Into a Hearing Conservation Program?

Alberta OHS Code Part 16, Section 221 (2) mandates that the noise management program must include a plan for worker education regarding the risks of excessive noise exposure and the proper use of hearing protection.

guidelines for measuring and monitoring employee exposure to noise
posting warning signs when the noise level exceeds 85 dB
the use and maintenance of employee-used hearing protection devices & PPE
timely and organized record-keeping of audiometric testing results

That gives you a checklist and the major hurdles you’ll have to pass to make your workplace safe enough. But you might be wondering about some ways to address these points.

How To Prevent Hearing Loss At Work

To prevent hearing loss at the workplace due to extreme noise, some rules of thumb you can make can complement your complete hearing conservation program. You can encourage workers to:

- Take enough breaks from the activities that create noise in a quiet breakroom
- Wear Custom Hearing Protection
- Keep maximum possible distances from the noise source
- Get your hearing protection fit tested to make sure of the fit
- Reduce noise at the source of it; buy machines that emit low noise as a feature, and keep such equipment lubricated and well-maintained
- Enclose the noisy workspace, or create a physical barrier between the machine and your ears
- Always wear proper hearing protection when you are working in noisy areas; if you are using foam plugs, make sure they are inserted for effective use
- If you are listening to music, keep the sound at a safe level, even if it means you can’t drown out industrial noise

The other thing you can do to protect your hearing at the workplace is to speak with hearing testing companies, especially audiometric technicians, who can advise based on their experiences. You can always learn from them what works and what doesn’t, so it makes sense to benefit from their wisdom.

It is also important that you learn how to wear your custom hearing protection properly.

How can noise exposure lead to hearing loss, and what can be done to prevent it?

Prolonged or repeated noise exposure can damage the delicate structures of the inner ear, leading to noise induced hearing loss, a common and often permanent form of hearing loss. This risk is especially high in work environments, where ongoing exposure can result in occupational hearing loss over time. Prevention focuses on reducing exposure and protecting hearing early through consistent use of hearing protection devices such as earplugs or earmuffs, along with other appropriate protection devices suited to the environment. Many workplaces also implement hearing loss prevention programs that combine education, monitoring, and protective strategies to help reduce long-term risk and preserve hearing health.

What are effective workplace hearing protection strategies, and how do employers put them into practice?

What are effective workplace hearing protection strategies, and how do employers put them into practice?

Effective workplace hearing protection strategies focus on reducing noise-induced hearing loss and long-term hearing loss by addressing both the work environment and employee habits. This begins with identifying each noise source on site and understanding the overall noise level workers are exposed to during a typical shift. Employers often measure sound using a sound level meter to track sound pressure levels, which helps determine when protection is required. Ongoing noise monitoring makes it possible to assess worker noise exposure and document specific employee noise exposures over time. From there, organizations can implement comprehensive hearing loss prevention programs that include providing appropriate hearing protectors, offering free hearing protection, and scheduling regular hearing tests. When these strategies are applied consistently, they significantly reduce risk while supporting safer, healthier workplaces.

How do workplaces reduce the risk of noise-induced hearing loss?

Workplaces reduce the risk of noise-induced hearing loss by first understanding where high levels of sound come from and how they affect the human ear over time. Employees who are regularly exposed to loud environments, especially around noisy equipment, face a higher risk of long-term hearing loss or even temporary hearing loss that can worsen without proper controls. Employers often assess overall noise level and sound levels during a typical work shift, using tools such as noise dosimeters to track exposure levels. From there, organizations apply engineering controls and other control measures to reduce noise at the source, helping protect workers and lower the chance of lasting damage.

What strategies help protect workers in high-noise industries like construction?

In high-risk environments such as the construction industry, effective protection requires a combination of planning, equipment, and training. Employers rely on protective equipment, including properly fitted hearing protectors and other hearing protective solutions, alongside administrative controls that limit time spent in loud areas. Clear policies help ensure workers understand risks, while supervisors provide training on safe practices and early warning signs like changes linked to a standard threshold shift. These strategies support broader goals in occupational health and occupational safety, helping prevent hearing damage and other problems associated with prolonged exposure to excessive workplace noise.

Hearing loss is not to be underestimated as a workplace hazard, especially since it can sneak up on those affected. It can permanently affect a worker’s social life, overall wellbeing, and job fitness – and it’s a lose-lose situation for employers and employees. Workplace noise levels can be reduced by using well-maintained machines, and workers can save themselves by wearing the right ear protection. But the most surefire way forward is to have your audiometric testing company help you build a hearing conservation program that’s to code.

Rocky Mountain Mobile Hearing Testing is your locally owned and operated Calgary business. We are committed to providing mobile hearing testing services and other safety tests to numerous industries and companies in Western Canada. Our services are part of the WorkSafeBC Provider Network, while our sound booths are approved by the CSA. We offer audiometry testing, mask fit testing, custom earplugs, noise measurements, help with implementing a hearing conservation program, and spirometry testing. If you want to improve your workplace, leave it in the hands of our team. Contact us today at (403) 399-4775.

The topic of health and safety in the workplace is one that can confuse workers without proper orientation. But it’s important to remember that provincial safety codes are a company’s responsibility to take precautions against occupational hazards. Occupational Health & Safety can be thought of as a form of budgetary concern as public protection; it’s expensive for the company when workers get hurt just as much as it is upsetting on an emotional level for all involved.

Without this approach, however, workers would be at risk of physical harm or even death, so it’s well worth getting employees and employers on the same page about what hazards exist on the worksite and how to mitigate them. According to occupational health and safety regulations in Alberta, there are a few common workplace dangers, some of them more obvious than others.

Fire Hazards Are Most Common

These are the most prevalent danger to workers. Various industries use hazardous materials, and many of them are flammable or explosive. A common fire hazard is the risk of explosion from improperly storing flammable materials, such as chemical reagents, fuel, or pressurized chemical tanks.

Certain types of welding equipment can be deadly and even sometimes even faulty connections or mishandled wiring can pose risks beyond welding equipment. Anything electrical can pose fire hazards as well, so maintenance, handling, and storage of electric equipment is paramount.

Fires are caused by carelessness, ignorance, and inexperience. With proper education and training information, especially accessible data sheets on hazardous materials on-site, companies can help their workers minimize fire hazards.

Falling Hazards Are Very Common

A fall from high places can be fatal, particularly if the person is not properly protected or if the equipment or machinery is the cause of the fall. For example, falling stairs and scaffolds are a common hazard for construction workers, and scaffolding for elevated work projects can cause falls.

Anywhere workers need to be at elevated heights, even as little as 1m above ground or platform level, presents a falling hazard. For office workers, there are numerous ways to fall, including slips and falls in common areas, staircase use during fire drills, or tripping hazards throughout the office.

Falls can lead to serious injuries, including broken bones, head injuries, and even death. Falls are usually caused by human error as well as equipment failure, which means that people need to be trained on how to avoid falls as a part of orientation. Anyone who is responsible for the maintenance of equipment needs to be considerate of the dangers present. This can be anything from slippery surfaces or uneven grips to poorly placed obstacles and even furniture or storage access that may be too high.

Is Loud Noise a Workplace Hazard?

This is a common question asked by workers and employers alike. According to regulations in Alberta, the decibel level that causes hearing loss varies by the decibel reading and the length of exposure. The thing about hearing loss is that it’s not easily felt the way other workplace injuries happen.

When you notice that your hearing has gone due to a noisy workplace like construction or industrial site, it might be too late. That’s why workplace hearing testing at regular intervals is make-or-break for keeping employees and their hearing safe. The normal daily noise threshold for the average person’s ears measures at around 85 decibels, which is lower than the average decibel readings at many worksites.

Loud noise might be an unavoidable part of your workplace, so there needs to be consistently close monitoring of hearing ability for each exposed employee, just in case. As a result, audiometric testing in Alberta is in high demand.

While these are just a few of the most common workplace hazards, certain businesses have specific needs that must be addressed. For example, medical offices and hospitals must take precautions against infection and other harmful diseases, while construction workers must be aware of potential falls from heights or mechanical equipment.

In general, working a job that involves the handling of chemicals can be very dangerous if proper precautions are not taken. These are obvious hazards with a need for training and orientation. On the other hand, loud noise is one thing most people don’t think of as a hazard right away, but companies familiar with OH&S compliance usually know the necessity of timely audiometric hearing testing as per code.