Noise Survey: Essential for Occupational Safety | OHSA

Workplace Noise Survey and Assessment Services

Prevent irreversible hearing loss, control acoustic hazards, and guarantee your legal compliance.

Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) is one of the most common—and entirely preventable—occupational diseases in Australia. OHSA provides comprehensive workplace noise surveys to measure sound pressure levels, evaluate daily exposures, and implement scientifically backed acoustic controls. Furthermore, we train safety professionals to manage these critical occupational hygiene hazards internally.

Book a Noise Survey: 1300 647 200

The Silent Threat of Workplace Noise

You cannot see noise, but the cumulative physical damage it causes is devastating. Under the WHS Act, employers have a strict legal duty to ensure workers are not exposed to noise levels exceeding the national exposure standard of 85 dB(A) averaged over an eight-hour shift.

Unfortunately, simply handing out earplugs is not a legally defensible strategy. If you over-protect workers, they cannot hear warning alarms; if you under-protect them, they suffer permanent deafness and tinnitus. Therefore, our expert occupational hygienists conduct precise noise surveys using advanced, calibrated acoustic equipment. We eliminate the guesswork, ensuring your workforce operates safely and your business remains fully compliant with the latest exposure standards.

Our Acoustic Management Solutions

We deliver targeted, data-driven assessments to protect your workers and ensure strict legal compliance.

1. Spot/Static Noise Surveys. First, we deploy NATA-calibrated Type 1 sound level meters to map the acoustic environment of your facility. Specifically, we identify high-noise machinery, outline hazardous zones, and create detailed noise contour maps. So, you know exactly where mandatory hearing protection signage needs to be displayed.
2. Personal Noise Dosimetry. We also need to understand exactly how much noise your mobile workers are exposed to over a full shift. Therefore, we equip operators with personal noise dosimeters worn on the shoulder near the ear. This continuous monitoring captures every peak impact and continuous drone, calculating their precise LAeq (equivalent continuous sound level).
3. Octave Band Analysis & PPE Selection. Not all noise is the same pitch. High-frequency shrieks require different protection than low-frequency rumbles. Ultimately, we conduct octave band analyses to break down the specific frequencies of your workplace noise. Next, we use this data to recommend the exact SLC80 (Sound Level Conversion) rating your hearing protection must have to keep workers safe without isolating them.
4. Acoustic Engineering Controls. Once we gather the exposure data, we help you apply the hierarchy of controls. Importantly, we recommend actionable engineering solutions, such as acoustic enclosures, vibration isolation mounts, and sound-absorbing baffles, to reduce the noise at the source before using PPE.

Build Internal Capability: Master Occupational Hygiene.

Do you want to know how to interpret exposure standards and implement life-saving acoustic protocols directly on your site? OHSA bridges the gap between expert consulting and elite WHS education.

As a Registered Training Organisation (RTO 31092), we teach the exact risk management frameworks our consultants use in the field. Upgrading your qualifications empowers you to manage complex physical hazards confidently.

• Diploma of WHS: Gain the advanced skills required to evaluate enterprise-level safety frameworks, manage occupational hygiene reports, and implement physical hazard controls for high-risk environments.
• Risk Management Training: Learn how to systematically identify acoustic hazards, assess their severity using industry-standard tools, and apply the hierarchy of controls effectively.

View WHS Risk Management Courses.

Industry Insights & Regulatory Standards

To ensure absolute accuracy and legal protection, OHSA bases all noise surveys on established acoustic science and peak industry standards:

• Safe Work Australia: We align our corporate noise policies directly with the national guidelines and Workplace Exposure Standards for occupational noise.
• Standards Australia (AS/NZS 1269): We conduct all acoustic assessments in strict accordance with the AS/NZS 1269 series, the definitive Australian standard for occupational noise management.
• Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists (AIOH): We conduct our physical hazard assessments following the rigorous scientific and ethical standards championed by the AIOH.
• WorkSafe Queensland: We cross-reference your compliance directly with state-specific WHS legislation, particularly the codes of practice for managing noise and preventing hearing loss at work.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

• What is the legal noise exposure limit in Australia? The national standard sets the legal workplace noise exposure limit at an LAeq,8h of 85 dB(A) averaged over an eight-hour shift. Additionally, workers must never be exposed to a peak noise level (LC, peak) exceeding 140 dB(C), such as an explosion or sledgehammer strike.
• What is a noise dosimeter? A noise dosimeter is a specialised, compact sound-level meter worn by a worker throughout their shift. It continuously records sound levels near the ear (the breathing zone) to calculate a worker’s total personal noise exposure, regardless of how much they move around a site.
• How often should a business conduct a noise survey? Best practice and WHS codes of practice require businesses to conduct a comprehensive noise survey at least once every five years. However, you must reassess immediately if you install new machinery, alter the building layout, or change shift lengths.
• What does the SLC80 rating on earplugs mean? The SLC80 (Sound Level Conversion) is a rating system used in Australia and New Zealand to indicate the level of acoustic protection a hearing protector provides. For example, wearing an earmuff with an SLC80 of 26 in a 100 dB(A) environment will effectively reduce the worker’s exposure to a safe 74 dB(A).