Senate Enquiry Inquiry into Hearing Health & Wellbeing (2016)

Senate Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Sport Submission to the Inquiry into the Hearing Health and Wellbeing of Australia.

Occupational exposure to noise is a major contributor to hearing loss. Despite occupational health and safety legislation relating to the control of workplace noise having been in place for many years, it appears that more work is required to achieve effective control of noise induced hearing loss.

An alternative approach suggested is to consider looking at non-auditory factors, such as ototoxics, and total exposure to noise over a 24-hour day.

Recommendation 1. For substances that are known to be ototoxins, workplace exposure standards should include an indication of
this hazard.

Recommendation 2. Consideration should be given to conducting a study similar to that of the Total Exposure Health Initiative.