Workplace-Related Hearing Loss

Too much noise can damage the ears. This can lead to hearing loss, ringing in the ears, or even temporary deafness. Noise-induced hearing loss isn’t just limited to sudden loud sounds either – it includes any sound you hear consistently day after day, like at construction sites, factories, farms, and more. Excessive, sustained noise can also include things more common to household noises like headphones with volumes set too high (80+ decibels).

The crucial concern for industrial site managers is whether a sustained or excessive noise at a worksite can damage a worker’s hearing and whether the company is liable. That’s where industrial audiometric screening tests can help a company determine the work environment’s influence on an employee’s hearing loss. Let’s look at how. We provide mobile hearing tests to see what your hearing ability is.

How Does Occupational Noise-Induced Hearing Loss Affect Workers’ Compensation?

An employee can file a claim with workers’ comp like Alberta’s WCB or WorkSafeBC and argue that the hearing loss they experienced was due to work, a term known as Occupational Noise-Induced Hearing Loss in Alberta. To determine whether their hearing loss was due to the workplace, employees need a set of audiograms from routine hearing tests that show data consistent with occupational hearing loss.

When an employee experiences hearing loss and it’s attributable to the work environment, the hearing loss is considered “compensable,” and the employee can get hearing aids covered by the WCB. And of course, if an employer gets significant WCB claims coming in, your premiums increase. Poor Performance Surcharges can impact your annual fees by 25%-200%, depending on how many WCB claims workers make each year.

What Can Hearing Loss Cost You in Court?

Hearing loss can result in compensation. There are a few precedents in case law that give an idea of what factors into damages payouts when a party is held liable for hearing loss. In these cases, the plaintiffs sought damages and collected $13,875 – $192,519 (adjusted for 2020 inflation levels).

Some cases of workplace hearing loss can lead to lawsuits. As with any lawsuit, payouts come in the forms of either out-of-court settlements or awarded economic damages after the court decides liability. Damages tend to be lump sums that can be broken down into multiple factors:

Actual Damages
Income Interruption Damages
Pecuniary & Punitive Damages
Pain & Suffering
Loss of Enjoyment of Life

While worker’s compensation is the first step for an employee suffering from physical injury, and a significant challenge based on that or hearing loss due to workplace noise hazards, there’s nothing stopping an employee from taking a company to court as a private citizen. In that case, they might seek damages near the upper limit of damage precedents in this area of law, which is close to $200,000.

Audiometric screening tests are not only required but tremendously helpful in avoiding large compensation payouts or higher payments to the WCB. They provide data in the form of a baseline test and annual hearing tests to ensure your personnel are not crossing thresholds for normal changes in hearing. If you have more questions on limiting your liability with industrial hearing tests or workplace noise testing, please don’t hesitate to contact us!

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.

Can I file a hearing loss claim if my job involved continuous exposure to loud noise?

Can I file a hearing loss claim if my job involved continuous exposure to loud noise?
Yes, you may be eligible to file a hearing loss claim if your employment history shows continuous exposure to loud environments that contributed to permanent hearing loss or traumatic hearing loss. It’s important to document your noise exposure levels and undergo a professional hearing test to support your case.

Do I need hearing aids if I have trouble hearing at work?

If you’re having trouble hearing conversations or workplace signals, you may be experiencing age-related hearing loss or hearing problems due to occupational factors. A qualified specialist can assess whether a hearing aid or hearing aids are right for you after a comprehensive hearing test.

What if my hearing loss affects only my left ear—can I still make a loss claim?

Yes, even if your hearing loss is limited to your left ear, you may be eligible to file loss claims, including for non economic loss depending on your individual case. If the condition is work related—caused by your work environment over two or more years—you should gather all the information available, such as medical reports, your health care benefits coverage, and any relevant case law. A review of your health care records and additional information will help determine your eligibility.

Workplace audiometric testing usually uses pure-tone audiometry: a worker listens for quiet tones at several pitches, one ear at a time, and signals when each tone is heard. The results are recorded on an audiogram. Other hearing tests exist, but the method chosen depends on the purpose of the assessment.

How does a workplace pure-tone hearing test work?

A technician seats the worker in a suitable quiet testing space and places headphones or inserts over the ears. Tones are presented at different frequencies and levels. The worker responds when they hear a tone, and the test establishes the quietest level detected at each tested frequency in each ear. That set of hearing thresholds is the basis of the audiogram.

In a workplace hearing conservation program, a baseline audiogram provides a point of comparison. Later tests can help identify a change that may call for review, counselling, a retest, or a referral. A single audiogram does not by itself diagnose the cause of a hearing change. The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety explains the test process and follow-up in more detail.

What is the difference between audiometry and an audiogram?

Audiometry is the testing process; an audiogram is the record of the results. The graph shows the softest tones heard at different pitches for the right and left ears. If you want to understand what the marks and numbers mean, see our guide to reading an audiogram. This article focuses on how the test is performed.

Are there other methods of hearing testing?

Yes. An audiologist may use speech testing, middle-ear tests, otoacoustic emissions, or other measures when a person needs a more complete clinical assessment. These tests answer different questions from routine workplace threshold monitoring. Which tests are appropriate depends on the person and the reason for the assessment; pure-tone testing is not the only appropriate hearing test for every situation.

For more on the next step after an occupational result needs attention, read our article on workplace hearing screening versus a diagnostic hearing evaluation.

How can employers arrange on-site audiometric testing?

Rocky Mountain Mobile Hearing Testing brings occupational audiometric testing to work sites in Calgary and surrounding service areas. Our on-site audiometric testing service explains the booking process, mobile setup, and reporting available to employers. To plan testing for your team, request a quote with your location and approximate number of workers, or call (403) 399-4775.

How we interpret your audiometric hearing test results revolves around the ear’s sensitivity. Luckily, your ear is a flexible thing. If your ear is exposed to brief or less-than-extreme loudness, it can bounce back and regain the sensitivity you’re used to. But very loud or sustained noise can severely hinder your ear’s ability to bounce back, and you can lose your hearing.

Through careful study, private and government organizations have established an understanding of the limits to which your ears can flex with the noise of the workplace—called thresholds. Hearing loss is defined as a shift beyond the average threshold, and qualified audiometric technicians like us are certified to interpret the results correctly. When you get an audiogram, we’ll be looking for normal results and normal shifts. But how do we look for those results.

Normal & Abnormal Shifts in Audiometric Testing

Baseline testing is one thing industrial, construction, agricultural, or any workers exposed to noise need, by law. According to the Occupational Health and Safety Code, a baseline test must establish the worker’s hearing thresholds within 6 months of being exposed to noise on the job.

Baseline testing gives context to later tests and shows what the worker’s hearing is like early into their first months of employment where noise levels are a hazard. The same OH&S Code notes in section 223 that additional hearing tests must be administered within 12 months of baseline testing, and again once every 2 years, minimum. We can observe a shift by comparing a recent test or several tests with the baseline.

Rocky Mountain Hearing can better understand thresholds falling within normal and abnormal ranges, and whether abnormal shifts result from the work environments. So what are the average metrics defining shifts in normal and abnormal thresholds?

A worker holding his ear feels the effects of hearing loss as an abnormal shift develops

An “Abnormal shift” means a threshold shift, in either ear, of 15 dB at two consecutive test frequencies from 1000 Hz up to and including 6000 Hz when compared to the baseline test.

But gathering and interpreting audiometric test results requires qualified personnel. And we’re certified to ensure that the results are a precise measurement of the worker’s hearing.

Audiometric Assessment Results Vs Audiometric Testing

Industrial hearing tests ensure that workers’ hearing isn’t changing due to noise. If there are abnormal test results, Rocky Mountain Mobile Hearing Testing have audiologists review the results and recommend followup. An audiometric assessment is the next step! A trained healthcare professional will look at a worker’s baseline hearing test, and their subsequent hearing test results to look for differences that aid a medical diagnosis. We’re here to interpret your employees’ results per OH&S Code and flag any results that aren’t quite normal.

An audiogram is the graph produced by a hearing test. It records the quietest tones you can hear at different pitches in each ear. Understanding the axes, symbols and plotted points makes audiometry results easier to follow—and helps you ask useful questions when your technician reviews them.

For workplace testing, the most useful comparison is often between today’s results and your earlier tests. An audiogram can reveal a change that deserves follow-up, but the graph alone does not explain every hearing difficulty or establish its cause.

What Is an Audiogram?

A pure-tone audiogram brings two measurements together: sound frequency, or pitch, and hearing threshold, or the lowest level detected during the test. Each point represents a response at one tested frequency. Results for the right and left ears are recorded separately.

During workplace audiometric testing, you listen through earphones in a controlled, quiet environment and respond when you hear a tone. The technician varies the tones to establish thresholds. Respond to sounds you hear rather than trying to predict when the next tone will occur.

How to Read the Axes and Symbols

Across the graph: frequency in hertz (Hz). Lower pitches are on the left and higher pitches are on the right. Check the frequency labels on your own report; the range depends on the test performed.
Down the graph: hearing level in dB HL. Softer test levels appear near the top. Larger numbers and louder test levels appear farther down. A point lower on the chart means a louder tone was needed at that frequency.
Right and left ears: an O commonly marks right-ear air-conduction results and an X commonly marks left-ear results. Other symbols can indicate masked testing, bone conduction or no response. Read the report’s legend.

The dB HL scale is calibrated for hearing assessment. It is different from the dBA measurements used to assess workplace noise exposure. A hearing threshold of 25 dB HL does not mean that a worker can safely tolerate 25 dBA more noise.

These conventions follow the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s audiogram symbol guidance.

What Do the Plotted Points Mean?

Read one ear and one frequency at a time. For example, a point at 1,000 Hz and 20 dB HL means the measured threshold at that pitch was 20 dB HL. A point at 4,000 Hz and 40 dB HL means a louder test tone was needed at that higher pitch. This example explains the graph; it is not a diagnosis.

The connecting line makes the pattern easier to see. It does not mean hearing was tested at every frequency between the points. Compare the two ears as well as the shape of each line, and ask the person reviewing the test to explain any difference.

Hearing Loss Patterns and Further Assessment

Results can differ across frequencies and between ears. Some people have greater difficulty at higher pitches; others have a flatter pattern. A dip around certain higher frequencies may prompt a review of noise exposure, but a pattern cannot prove that a particular job or incident caused the change.

A clinical assessment may include both air-conduction and bone-conduction testing. Comparing them helps a hearing professional distinguish problems involving the outer or middle ear from those involving the inner ear. Workplace screening does not necessarily include the full range of diagnostic tests.

Descriptions such as mild, moderate, severe and profound summarize the degree of hearing loss using a classification system. They should be explained alongside the actual thresholds, the tests performed and the person’s communication needs. See ASHA’s guide to type, degree and configuration of hearing loss for background.

Why Repeat Workplace Hearing Tests?

A baseline provides a reference for later results. Repeat testing helps identify changes that may need confirmation, referral or a review of workplace controls. Tell the technician about recent noise exposure, ear symptoms and previous hearing tests, and follow the preparation instructions provided for your appointment.

A change should be reviewed in context. Your testing provider can explain the next step and whether further assessment is appropriate. Employers should use testing alongside noise exposure assessments, worker education and properly selected hearing protection—not as a substitute for reducing noise.

Common Questions About Audiograms

Does zero dB HL mean there is no sound?

No. Zero dB HL is a reference level on the hearing-test scale. It is not the absence of sound, and some people detect tones below that reference.

What is the speech banana?

The “speech banana” is an illustration of where many speech sounds fall across pitch and level. It can help explain why some sounds are harder to hear, but it is not a separate test. An audiogram alone cannot fully predict how well someone understands conversation, particularly with background noise.

Can an audiogram tell me which hearing protection to use?

Hearing protection selection also depends on measured workplace noise, the task and the individual fit. An audiogram measures hearing thresholds; hearing protection fit testing evaluates the protection achieved by a worker wearing a particular device.

What should I ask when my results are reviewed?

How do these results compare with my baseline?
Is there a difference between ears or a change that needs further assessment?
When should I be tested again?
Do my workplace noise controls or hearing protection need review?

Arrange Workplace Audiometric Testing

Rocky Mountain Mobile Hearing Testing provides on-site testing for employers in Calgary and across Alberta, Saskatchewan and Eastern BC. Learn about the testing process and employer reporting, or request a quote with your site location, workforce size and preferred dates.

Some companies prefer to approach their safety programs with reluctance and begrudging acceptance rather than with zeal, curiosity and excitement. These companies often struggle to see the value behind safety programs like PPE policies and hearing conservation programs. However, the reality is that these programs—when properly implemented—are extremely cost effective for all parties involved.

More evidence is coming out showing how properly implemented safety programs reduce the time it takes people to do their job and significantly reduces the likelihood of work-related accidents and the medical, insurance and operating costs associated with them. Below, we look at these and other reasons why hearing conservation programs and safety culture, in general, are more cost-effective than the alternative.

How Hearing Conservation Programs Save You Money

Reducing the Likelihood of Hearing Loss

We begin with perhaps the most obvious benefit of safety and hearing conservation programs, which is the reduction of work-related accidents. With custom hearing plugs and properly designated “loud” areas, most employees will be at substantially less risk of hearing loss. The same is true for engineered controls on process equipment, like selecting less noisy equipment or adding barriers to reduce noise travel.

Improving Efficiency

One of the most common gripes we hear is that “safety takes time that I don’t have” or something along those lines. However, the first step in developing a safety program—in Alberta, at least—is creating a job inventory to develop hazards assessments from. Can you think of a better way to itemize the duties that each employee performs in the run of their day?

But why is having an itemized list of tasks relevant to efficiency? Because it gives you the ability to focus on a particular area, identify problems or process improvements, implement them and monitor their success. This is one of the most powerful tools available to employers.

Let’s take a look at a brief example. Your workplace has a bench grinder, which is used once or twice a day by all your employees. You know that it requires hearing protection during use because of the manufacturer’s instructions, and you just can’t understand why none of your employees are willing to wear them. In examining the hearing conservation program, you realize that you’ve put the disposable ear plugs at the far end of the shop, making remembering or using them a struggle. Putting them above the bench grinder almost immediately removes the problem.

Increasing Employee Retention & Job Outcomes

Labour is the highest cost to most businesses, and turnover rate only confounds that issue in companies that require skilled workers. The catch-22 of this reality is that skilled workers are almost always in demand, making retention a serious concern for these same businesses. Luckily, studies have shown that safety programs actually increase employee retention.

The reason this works is that safety programs show a clear commitment from employers to their employees. Plus, they create avenues for feedback and improvement on both sides of the fence through morning meetings, regular training and other communication platforms.

Learn How Hearing Conservation Programs Can Save You Money Today

We make it easy to implement hearing conservation programs that work for the needs of your business, so contact us today to learn more about how we can help.

As the need for audiometric testing steadily grows, many businesses are looking to find more information about this interesting topic. One of the questions on the top of their minds is, “what is the regulatory standard for hearing testing in the trades?” As long-time proponents of hearing health and testing, we couldn’t be happier to provide information on this, which we do below.

Provincial Legislation

Alberta

Within Alberta, all safety legislation falls under the purview of Occupational Health and Safety. Three documents offer information about this legislation and audiometric testing, namely the OHS Act, Regulation and Code. For specific information about noise exposure, refer to Part 16 of the Code.

British Columbia

In British Columbia, five documents are essential to the understanding of audiometric testing and safety at the workplace. These documents are:

For specific information about noise exposure, refer to the OHS Guidelines, Division 1 -Noise Exposure.

Saskatchewan

In Saskatchewan, health and safety standards operate under The Workers’ Compensation Act, 2013, together with The Workers’ Compensation General Regulations, 1985 and The Workers’ Compensation Miscellaneous Regulations. For links to downloadable versions of these resources, consult this page on their website. Information specifically related to audiometric testing can be found in POL 11/ 2012 of the policy and procedure manual.

Related, Relevant Standards

Although government legislation is often the first place to look for information regarding safety information, it is far from the only location. Indeed, many regulations refer to additional standards and documents that further describe and explain the intention of certain standards. You can see a list of these documents related specifically to audiometric testing down below.

ANSI Standards

S1.25-1991 (R2002), Specification for Personal Noise Dosimeters
S1.4-1983 (R2006), Specification for Sound Level Meters
S1.43-1997 (R2002), Specifications for Integrating-Averaging Sound Level Meters
S3.6-2004, Specification for Audiometers

CSA Standards

Z94.2-14, Hearing Protection Devices — Performance, Selection, Care, and Use
Z107.56-06, Procedures for the Measurement of Occupational Noise Exposure
CAN/CSA-Z321-96 (R2006), Signs and Symbols for the Workplace

IEC Standards

61672-1 (2002), Electroacoustics – Sound Level Meters – Part 1: Specifications
61672-2 (2003), Electroacoustics – Sound Level Meters – Part 2: Pattern evaluation tests

Talk to the Audiometric Testing Experts Today

Still want to know more about audiometric testing? We would be more than happy to answer all your questions and concerns, so contact us today!

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 on (403) 399-4775.

When it comes to hearing testing, there are many questions to be answered. For example, “who sets up industrial hearing testing?” Answering this question is relatively straightforward, as it is business representatives, like safety consultants, who set up the appointments. We explain in more detail below.

Everything You Need to Know About Setting Up Industrial Hearing Testing

Organizing Mobile Hearing Testing Services

The process of setting up industrial hearing testing is fairly simple. A business representative will contact our mobile hearing testing service and inquire about the availability of our services. Next, we decide on a time and location for the hearing testing to take place. When the right date arrives, our testing unit will come on-site, park in a convenient location and check in with the site contact. Where necessary, our team will attend relevant safety training and site orientation before the testing begins.

Other Considerations

Depending on the size of your company, you may want to consider organizing the appointment times for hearing testing. Very large companies may prefer to organize the testing by department (accounting, welding, etc.), name or another method. The process takes 12-15 minutes per person, so it is not advisable to queue outside the testing unit.

Contact Our Mobile Hearing Testing Service Today!

To book an appointment for hearing testing at your facility, simply Rocky Mountain Mobile Hearing Testing a call. Our friendly and knowledgeable staff can answer any questions you may have and book your testing appointment at a time that is convenient for you.

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 on (403) 399-4775.

Audiometry testing accomplishes several key benefits. It ensures your hearing is maintained, alerts you to any changes or unsafe practices at your worksite, and best of all, keeps you in compliance with Alberta Occupational Health & Safety (OH&S) Code. Usually, it is this last item that really gets people to pay attention.

And for good reason. The requirements of the Act, Regulations and Code have only become more stringent in recent times. With the addition of administrative penalties, this trend is likely to continue into the future. Interestingly, this affects both employers and employees in almost equal measure.

As an employer, you have an obligation to understand these rules and deploy them appropriately to protect your workers. As a worker, you are responsible for complying with regulations and understanding your role in creating a safe work environment for yourself and your peers. But does this mean that your workplace must complete audiometry testing?

Who Needs Audiometry Testing

Every employer will need to consider audiometry testing, at least to the extent that their workers are exposed to noise in the run of a typical day. They must either reduce the noise to below the Occupational Exposure Limit (OEL) threshold, or develop a hearing conservation program that includes audiometric testing. For more information about OELs, check here.

So, if your workplace is a relatively quiet environment without regular spikes in the noise level, you may not have to worry about audiometry testing. Still, many commercial and industrial companies will have at least some level of noise for their manufacturing or processing equipment. But, when does “some noise” become “too much noise”?

For that, we need two pieces of information. The first is Section 218 and the second is Schedule 3, Table 1, referred to in this section.

Section 218

An employer must ensure that a worker’s exposure to noise does not exceed

(a) the noise exposure limits in Schedule 3, Table 1, and

(b) 85 dBA L_exB

Schedule 3, Table 1

Exposure Level (dBA)	Exposure Duration
82	16 hours
83	12 hours and 41 minutes
84	10 hours and 4 minutes
85	8 hours
88	4 hours
91	2 hours
94	1 hours
97	30 minutes
100	15 minutes
103	8 minutes
106	4 minutes
109	2 minutes
112	56 seconds
115 and greater	0

Basically, if noise goes above these limits at your workplace, it is time to develop a hearing conservation program and perform audiometry testing for your workers.

How to Get Audiometry Testing

We offer mobile audiometry testing throughout Western Canada. Our vehicles are equipped with all the equipment necessary to perform the testing and produce reports stating the results. To learn more about how we can help, contact us today.

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 on (403) 399-4775.