Noise is a fact of life in modern workplaces, but noise-induced hearing loss does not have to be. Across Victoria, employers are legally required to protect workers from harmful noise and to monitor their hearing over time. Anitech makes this simple by delivering audiometric testing Victoria across Melbourne and regional Victoria, helping you stay compliant while keeping your people safe and productive.
All tests are conducted inside fully equipped mobile testing units, reported as clear audiograms, and supported with expert analysis and practical guidance. The service is designed to meet the requirements of WorkSafe Victoria and Australian Standard AS/NZS 1269.4, so you can demonstrate due diligence with confidence.
Why Audiometric Testing Matters in Victorian Workplaces
Noise-induced hearing loss remains one of the most common and preventable occupational diseases in Australia. Once hearing is damaged, it cannot be restored, but it can be protected with the right controls and monitoring.
Regular audiometric testing helps you to:
- Detect early signs of hearing loss before workers notice day-to-day difficulties.
- Check that noise controls and hearing protection are working as intended.
- Identify high-risk areas, tasks, and roles that need additional controls.
- Engage employees in your safety program by showing you care about their long-term health.
- Demonstrate compliance with WorkSafe Victoria expectations and AS/NZS 1269.4.
Industries such as manufacturing, construction, mining, transport, hospitality, education, and warehousing often have roles where workers are exposed to hazardous noise levels. For these businesses, structured, high-quality hearing testing is an essential part of their occupational health and safety strategy.
Your Legal Duties Under Victorian OHS Noise Regulations
Under Victoria's Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, employers have specific duties when managing noise. Audiometric testing is not just best practice; in many cases it is mandatory.
Mandatory Audiometric Testing When Hearing Protectors Are Used
When hearing protectors are used to control employees' exposure to noise so that it does not exceed the noise exposure standard, employers must provide mandatory audiometric testing for those employees. This requirement is supported by provisions such as OHS Regulations r20(2)(a), r36, r38 and r39.
In practical terms, this means that if you rely on earmuffs or earplugs to keep noise exposure below the standard, you also need a structured program of audiometric testing to confirm that workers' hearing is being effectively protected over time.
Audiological Examinations for Significant Hearing Shift
The regulations also set out what must happen when audiometric test results show a significant change in hearing. If the results of two or more audiometric tests over a period not exceeding two years indicate a cumulative reduction in hearing levels of 15 dB or more at 3000, 4000 or 6000 Hz, an employer must arrange an audiological examination as soon as reasonably possible.
For example, if an employee has yearly tests and each test shows a hearing loss of 7.5 dB at a relevant frequency, this adds up to 15 dB over two years and triggers the requirement for an audiological examination.
Under the regulations:
- An audiological examination must be conducted by a suitably qualified person, such as an audiologist or ear, nose and throat specialist.
- The examination assesses the type and cause of any hearing disorder and confirms whether hearing loss is likely to be due to exposure to noise at work.
- The employer must receive a report for each employee that sets out the results and states whether work-related noise is likely to be the cause.
- Each employee must be given a copy of their report as soon as reasonably practicable after the employer receives it, in line with OHS Regulations including r20(2)(a) and r38.
If the result indicates that the hearing loss is likely to be due to occupational noise exposure, the employer must review and, if necessary, revise noise risk controls, as required by provisions such as OHS Regulations r36(1)(b). This may involve engineering changes, process adjustments, or improvements in hearing protection and training.
Confidential Record Keeping and Sharing of Aggregate Data
Victorian OHS regulations also set strict expectations for how audiometric records are managed. Under provisions such as OHS Regulations r20 and r40:
- Employers must retain audiometric test results and audiological examination reports as a confidential record for as long as the employee remains employed.
- Copies of reports must be provided to the employees to whom they relate, in line with r20(2).
- On request, employers must provide a health and safety representative with aggregate, de-identified results of the most recent audiometric tests for their designated work group.
- These aggregate results cannot contain information that identifies individual employees or from which their identity could reasonably be determined, as required by r40(2) and r40(3).
Anitech's service is designed to support these obligations by providing clear reporting, secure data handling and easy access to individual and aggregate results, while protecting worker confidentiality.
How Anitech's Mobile Audiometric Testing Works
Anitech brings professional, compliant audiometric testing directly to your site using purpose-built mobile units. This approach minimises disruption, reduces downtime, and makes it straightforward to schedule testing across a whole workforce.
Our process is structured, efficient and worker-friendly.
1. Planning and Scheduling
- We discuss your work environment, shift patterns and workforce size to design a testing schedule that fits your operations.
- Testing sessions are planned to align with production requirements, changeovers or quieter periods so you maintain productivity.
- Where needed, we help you coordinate baseline tests for new employees and periodic tests for existing staff.
2. Fully Equipped Mobile Units
- All tests are conducted in dedicated mobile testing units that are designed to provide a controlled acoustic environment.
- The units are equipped with modern audiometric equipment that supports testing to the requirements of AS/NZS 1269.4.
- Employees do not need to travel offsite, which reduces time away from work and simplifies logistics.
3. Individual Hearing Tests
- Each employee is welcomed into the mobile unit and the test procedure is explained in simple, clear language.
- The test is conducted in a controlled environment using headphones and standardised tones at various frequencies, focusing in particular on key frequencies including 3000, 4000 and 6000 Hz.
- The process is non-invasive, quick and comfortable, typically taking only a short time per person.
4. Audiogram Reporting and Analysis
- Each test result is documented as an audiogram, giving a visual representation of the employee's hearing levels across different frequencies.
- Anitech provides clear, easy-to-read reports for each employee and for your organisation overall.
- We analyse results over time to identify trends, shifts or patterns that may indicate emerging hearing risks or the need for further action.
5. Practical Advice and Next Steps
- We provide guidance on interpreting audiograms in the context of your workplace noise profile and controls.
- Where significant shifts are identified, we outline the steps you may need to take, such as arranging audiological examinations in line with regulatory triggers.
- We can also recommend practical noise-management measures, such as adjusting work practices, reviewing hearing protector selection and fit, or refreshing worker training.
Benefits of Onsite Mobile Audiometric Testing With Anitech
Anitech's service is built to make compliance easier while delivering real value to your people and your business.
- Minimal downtime— Testing takes place at your site in mobile units, so employees are only away from work for the duration of the test.
- Convenience for all locations— From metropolitan Melbourne to regional and remote areas of Victoria, our mobile units bring the testing facility to you.
- Scalable for any workforce size— Whether you have a handful of workers or hundreds across multiple shifts, our process scales smoothly.
- Consistent, high-quality testing— Standardised procedures mean results are consistent over time, making it easier to spot real hearing changes.
- Better worker engagement— Onsite testing and clear explanations demonstrate that you value employees' long-term health, which supports a stronger safety culture.
- Regulatory peace of mind— Testing and reporting are designed to align with WorkSafe Victoria guidance and AS/NZS 1269.4, helping you show compliance when audited.
- Comprehensive reporting— You receive individual reports for employees, summary reports for management, and support to generate aggregate, de-identified data for health and safety representatives.
Interpreting Audiograms and Acting on Results
An audiogram is more than a graph; it is a powerful tool for tracking the effectiveness of your noise controls. Anitech helps you turn audiometric data into clear decisions.
- Baseline comparison— Early tests provide a baseline. Later results are compared against this baseline to identify any standard threshold shifts or emerging issues.
- Regulatory triggers— We help you recognise when cumulative hearing loss results may require an audiological examination, in line with requirements relating to 15 dB shifts at 3000, 4000 or 6000 Hz within two years.
- Targeted risk control— If changes are concentrated in particular groups or locations, this may point to specific machines, tasks or areas that need further assessment or controls.
- Continuous improvement— Regular review of audiometric results allows you to check whether changes to equipment, processes or hearing protection are reducing risk over time.
Industries Anitech Supports Across Melbourne and Victoria
Any workplace with hazardous noise can benefit from structured audiometric testing. Anitech tailors onsite testing programs to a wide range of industries, including:
- Manufacturing and production— Workshops, factories and processing plants with machinery, tools and equipment that generate sustained noise.
- Construction and infrastructure— Building sites, roadworks and civil projects where exposure can come from heavy plant, power tools and impact noise.
- Mining and resource operations— Underground and open-cut sites, quarries and processing facilities.
- Transport and logistics— Depots, freight terminals, warehouses and maintenance facilities.
- Hospitality and events— Venues, kitchens and event spaces where amplified sound, crowds and equipment can elevate noise levels.
- Education and government facilities— Workshops, maintenance teams and specialised training areas with noisy equipment.
- Retail and warehousing— Distribution centres, loading docks and high-traffic storage environments.
Whether your employees work in a busy factory, an outdoor construction site or a large distribution centre, Anitech's mobile testing units and experienced team are equipped to deliver reliable, compliant audiometric testing that suits your environment.
What To Expect On Test Day
Clear organisation and communication make test day smooth and stress-free for both managers and employees.
- Pre-test communication— We provide information you can share with workers about why tests are being conducted, what to expect and how long it will take.
- Arrival and setup— Our team arrives with the mobile unit, sets up in the agreed location, and confirms the schedule for the day.
- Check-in process— Employees are checked in against the testing list, and identification is confirmed so results are correctly attributed.
- Comfortable, private testing— Tests are conducted one-on-one in the mobile unit, with a focus on confidentiality, comfort and clear instructions.
- Immediate feedback where appropriate— Where suitable, employees may receive basic feedback on their results, with formal reports provided after processing.
- Post-test reporting— Once testing is complete, we prepare and deliver individual audiograms, management summaries and aggregate data for your records and any health and safety representatives.
Building a Long-Term Hearing Conservation Program
A single round of audiometric testing is valuable, but the real power comes when testing is integrated into a long-term hearing conservation strategy. Anitech supports organisations to build sustainable programs that protect hearing year after year.
- Baseline and periodic testing schedules— Establish appropriate intervals for initial and follow-up tests based on your noise risk profile and regulatory requirements.
- Integration with noise assessments— Use audiometric data alongside noise surveys and risk assessments to prioritise controls and investments.
- Review of controls— When audiometric trends or audiological reports indicate work-related hearing loss, we help you consider how to review and enhance your noise control measures.
- Training and communication— Support for educating employees on correct use of hearing protectors, fit and maintenance, and the importance of attending scheduled tests.
- Documentation and readiness for inspection— Maintain structured records and reports that clearly demonstrate how you meet your obligations under Victorian OHS regulations.
Partner With Anitech for Compliant, Worker-Focused Audiometric Testing
Managing noise risk is not only about meeting legal requirements; it is about protecting the people who keep your business running. With Anitech's onsite, mobile audiometric testing across Melbourne and Victoria, you can:
- Meet WorkSafe Victoria and AS/NZS 1269.4 requirements with confidence.
- Provide mandatory audiometric testing where hearing protectors control noise exposure.
- Respond promptly and appropriately when results indicate the need for audiological examinations.
- Maintain confidential, accurate records and provide employees and health and safety representatives with the information they are entitled to.
- Minimise downtime while maximising protection for workers in manufacturing, construction, mining, transport, hospitality, education, warehousing and beyond.
If you are looking to strengthen your hearing conservation program, reduce noise-related risk and make compliance easier, Anitech's mobile audiometric testing service offers a proven, convenient and worker-friendly solution for businesses across Victoria.
