Audiometric Surveillance Course

On 31 March 2024 WA enacted new audiometric testing regulations, Work Health and Safety (WHS) regulation 58 (and regulation 118). The new law requires companies to arrange hearing tests for all noise-exposed workers soon after employment and then at lest every 2 years, and compare results to detect any change in hearing. Companies are also required to take action if a significant deterioration in hearing is detected.

Is this new law the same as the long-standing WorkCover WA hearing testing program? No. Some elements are similar, however other aspects are very different to WorkCover requirements.

This means existing Approved Audiometric Officers will also need to understand and incorporate the new regulatory requirements. Testers are quickly discovering that the skills and knowledge used for WorkCover WA testing are not enough. To help current testers achieve compliance with regulation 58 testing protocols we’ve developed the 2.5 day Conversion to Audiometric Surveillance. There’s also a 1.5 day version for managers and others involved in planning delivery of audiometric testing services.

From 1 July 2024 WorkCover will terminate the hearing testing program familiar to many companies, clinics and testers. Essentially, the WorkCover database for entering testing results will close. There will be no more requirement to complete “WorkCover hearing tests” and lodge with WorkCover. There will be no more training of Approved Audiometric Officers. WorkCover will no longer require registration of audiometers and booths. Contact WorkCover WA for more information about the changes.

While conducting a hearing test can be perceived as simply “pressing buttons” there is far more involved in completing the task accurately and according to best practice. In addition to achieving compliance with WA legislation, this course develops “thinking” testers who have the confidence and ability to obtain accurate results and manage routine and challenging testing situations.

 In addition to achieving compliance with WA legislation, this course develops “thinking” testers who have the confidence and ability to obtain accurate results and manage routine and challenging testing situations.

There are no formal prerequisites for attending this course. Many of our students have no background in audiometry or health assessment. 

The course does, however, includes a lot of material and some is study required in order pass the written and practical assessments.

Yes, the course materials and skill set are drawn directly from the detailed list of 16 “competency requirements” for audiometric testers described in Appendix D of AS/NZS 1269.4; the primary reference document for conducting occupational audiometry in Australia.

The skills and knowledge obtained through this workshop will enable existing audiometric testers to achieve compliance with:

• WA Work Health and Safety regulation 58 Audiometric testing
• Code of Practice: Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss at Work
• Australian Standard AS/NZS1269.4 Auditory assessment

Course graduates receive a Certificate of Competence from The Hearing Company, Australia’s leading occupational audiometry course provider. The Certificate describes competency in the key aspects of occupational audiometry as detailed in: Australian Standard AS/NZS 1269.4, Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss at Work Code of Practice and WA Work Health & Safety regulation 58/118.

To pass the practical assessment students are required to demonstrate “competence” (as specified in AS/NZS1269.4) in the key aspects of hearing assessment. Marks towards the written assessment come from a pre-course assignment, in-course quizzes and an open assessment on day 5.

The written assessment includes a pre-course assignment, quizzes during the course and an open book test on the final day.

On the final day students’ practical skills are formally assessed, using well-practiced templates and guides worked on during the course.

The pass rate for this course is high (over 90%). Supplementary assessments are offered, if required.

The skills obtained from this course can be used in any occupational audiometry setting in Australia and the Asia Pacific region.

The Audiometric Surveillance Course provides comprehensive training in the skills and knowledge required to conduct legislation-compliant occupational hearing assessments in Western Australia.

Course material is drawn from several key reference documents including:

• Work Health & Safety (WHS) regulation 58 and 118 in Western Australia
  
• Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss at Work Code of Practice
• Australian Standard/New Zealand Standard AS/NZS1269.4
• NAL Report 80 Criteria for assessing hearing conservation audiograms

Topics covered include:

• Conducting hearing tests on adults following the Australian Standard technique
• Managing the effects of background noise on test accuracy
• Conducting otoscopy (ear inspections) safely and effectively
• Analysing audiograms and applying referral criteria
• Accurately describing audiograms and presenting test results to workers
• Ear anatomy, physiology and common ear conditions in adults
• Conducting an effective case history
• Audiogram comparison protocols and calculations (Australian Standard and other)
• Legislative and Australian Standards requirements for conducting workplace audiometry
• Effects of noise and other hazards on workers
• Hearing protection and other strategies for managing exposure to loud noise
• Managing challenging testing situations
• Detecting and managing equipment faults

The course runs over 5 days.

9.00am to 4.30pm (although usually there’s an earlier finish on day 5).

Students are required to attend all sessions.

There is a lot of material to cover and skills to learn.

Our focus is on ensuring students complete the course with confident in their new skills and knowledge, and this takes time. We provide multiple one-on-one practice sessions, each building on the previous until students are capable of independently and accurately completing a full assessment.

The Australian Standard and Code of Practice are detailed documents. Students need time to understand and discuss the material, practice testing techniques and learn how to apply into everyday practice in the workplace.

We acknowledge that people learn at different paces (some much faster than others) and in any group this is a challenge for the teachers. We’ve found that running the course over 5 days allows the majority of students to pass, without being too stressful for less confident learners.

This course is aimed at practitioners within the medical and occupational health sectors seeking audiometry training that’s fully compliant with WA’s audiometry legislation, Australian Standards and industry best practice.

Once registered, students will be asked to bring to the course copies of two key reference documents:

• Australian Standard/New Zealand Standard 1269 Part 4 Auditory assessment.
• Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss at Work Code of Practice (a free download from the Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety website).

Here’s the link to Code of Practice on the Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety website.