Hearing Protection at Work: How to Protect Your Ears in Noisy Workshops
Updated: 25 September 2026
Noise is part of everyday work in fabrication shops, engineering workshops, manufacturing plants, construction sites and maintenance environments. Cutting, grinding, machining, compressed air, impact tools and other equipment can all contribute to a worker's total noise exposure.
The important question is not simply whether a workplace sounds loud. It is how much noise workers are exposed to, for how long, and whether the risks have been eliminated or minimised as far as reasonably practicable.
Quick answer
In Australia, the workplace noise exposure standard is LAeq,8h of 85 dB(A) over an eight-hour working day or LC,peak of 140 dB(C) for peak noise. Hearing protection can be an important control, but it should not replace reasonably practicable measures to eliminate noise or reduce it at the source. Where hearing protection is required, its class, fit, compatibility with other PPE, condition and consistent use all matter.
Important safety guidance
Hearing protection is not a substitute for proper workplace noise risk management. Businesses should identify hazardous noise, assess exposure where required and apply the hierarchy of controls before relying on PPE. Requirements can also differ between Australian jurisdictions. AusTech supplies hearing protection, tooling and workshop products but does not provide WHS, occupational hygiene or compliance advice. Refer to your state or territory regulator and engage a competent person where necessary.
How much workplace noise is too much?
Australia's workplace exposure standard for noise has two components:
- 85 dB(A) LAeq,8h averaged over an eight-hour working day.
- 140 dB(C) LC,peak for peak sound pressure.
Noise exposure is logarithmic, so a relatively small increase in decibels can represent a substantial increase in sound energy. Each increase of 3 dB approximately doubles the sound energy, which means the equivalent exposure time halves.
| Noise level |
Equivalent exposure duration |
| 85 dB(A) |
8 hours |
| 88 dB(A) |
4 hours |
| 91 dB(A) |
2 hours |
| 94 dB(A) |
1 hour |
| 97 dB(A) |
30 minutes |
| 100 dB(A) |
15 minutes |
Important: these are equivalent noise exposures, not recommended "safe working times". Workplace noise should be kept below the exposure standard where it is reasonably practicable to do so.
Don't rely on how loud it feels
If workers need to raise their voices to communicate with someone about one metre away, hazardous noise may be present. This can be a useful warning sign, but it is not a substitute for a proper noise assessment.
Workplace Health and Safety Queensland also advises that smartphone noise apps are not sufficiently accurate for formal WHS noise assessments. Where exposure is uncertain, measurements should be undertaken using suitable equipment and an appropriate assessment method.
Control the noise before relying on hearing protection
Earplugs and earmuffs are important PPE, but they sit towards the lower end of the hierarchy of controls because their effectiveness depends heavily on selection, fit and human behaviour.
A workplace should first consider whether the noise can be eliminated or reduced through measures such as:
- Eliminating the noisy process or source where reasonably practicable.
- Substituting quieter plant, tooling or processes.
- Isolating noisy equipment or workers from the noise source.
- Engineering controls such as enclosures, barriers, damping or acoustic treatment.
- Administrative controls to reduce the duration or number of workers exposed.
- Personal hearing protection for remaining risks or where otherwise required.
Tool and machine condition can contribute to unnecessary noise
Maintenance matters too. Worn bearings or gears, poor lubrication, loose components, unbalanced rotating parts and blunt cutting tools can create avoidable machinery noise.
Keeping machinery maintained and cutting tools in appropriate condition can therefore form part of a broader noise-control and productivity strategy. If your saw blades, cutters or knives are due for service, learn more about AusTech's sharpening service.
Sharpening or tool maintenance should not be treated as a substitute for workplace noise assessment or other required controls.
How to choose the right hearing protection
Hearing protection should be selected for the actual noise exposure, the worker, the task and the other PPE being worn. Choosing the product with the largest number on the packaging is not necessarily the best approach.
Understanding hearing-protection Classes 1-5
Australian hearing protectors are commonly supplied with an SLC80 rating and a protection class. The class method provides a practical way of matching hearing protection to an assessed LAeq,8h noise level.
| Hearing protection class |
LAeq,8h noise level used by the class method |
| Class 1 |
Less than 90 dB(A) |
| Class 2 |
90 to less than 95 dB(A) |
| Class 3 |
95 to less than 100 dB(A) |
| Class 4 |
100 to less than 105 dB(A) |
| Class 5 |
105 to less than 110 dB(A) |
Class 5 is not automatically "better". Excessive attenuation can make communication and warning signals unnecessarily difficult to hear. The objective is appropriate protection for the assessed exposure while still allowing workers to perform their job safely.
Earplugs or earmuffs?
| Consideration |
Earplugs |
Earmuffs |
| Hot environments |
Often lighter and cooler |
Can become warm during extended wear |
| Fit |
Correct insertion is essential |
Usually straightforward to position and visually check |
| Hygiene |
Clean hands and correct handling are important |
Can be convenient where hands regularly become dirty |
| Other PPE |
Can work well where head-worn PPE makes muffs difficult |
Spectacle arms, respirators and other equipment can interfere with the earmuff seal |
| Frequent removal |
May take longer to refit correctly |
Often convenient for intermittent use |
The final decision should still be based on assessed noise exposure and the protector's documented attenuation performance, not convenience alone.
Fit and compatibility matter
Hearing protection only performs as intended when it fits properly. Workers should check hearing protection while wearing the same safety glasses, hard hats, respirators or other equipment they normally use.
With earmuffs, anything that interferes with the cushion's seal against the head can reduce effective protection. With earplugs, insertion technique, plug size and condition can all affect performance.
Hearing protection has to stay on
Removing hearing protection even for short periods while remaining in a noisy area can substantially reduce the effective protection received across the shift. Workers need equipment they can wear correctly and consistently for the entire period of exposure.
Inspect and maintain it
- Check earmuff cushions and seals for damage, hardening or deterioration.
- Check headbands and helmet attachments remain functional.
- Keep reusable earplugs clean and in good condition.
- Use disposable plugs as intended by the manufacturer.
- Replace damaged, contaminated or deteriorated hearing protection.
Hearing tests: what Queensland and NSW workplaces should know
Audiometric testing requirements have changed in recent years, so older workplace procedures may need to be reviewed.
Queensland
Where a PCBU requires a worker to use personal protective equipment to protect them from noise above the exposure standard, Queensland requires the PCBU to arrange and pay for audiometric testing.
For workers commencing applicable work on or after 29 July 2025, testing is required within three months of starting the work and then at least every two years. Workers who had already commenced applicable work before 29 July 2025 are required to receive testing before 29 July 2027, followed by testing at least every two years.
New South Wales
In NSW, audiometric testing is required where workers are frequently required to use personal hearing protection as a control for noise exceeding the exposure standard. New workers covered by the requirement should receive baseline testing within three months and follow-up testing at least every two years. Separate transition requirements applied to workers who commenced before 1 January 2024.
Check the rules that apply to your workplace
WHS requirements can vary between jurisdictions and may change. The information above is a general snapshot as at 25 September 2026, not compliance advice. Check current guidance from your state or territory regulator.
A practical hearing-protection checklist
- ✓ Identify tasks, machines and areas that may expose workers to hazardous noise.
- ✓ Arrange an appropriate noise assessment where exposure is uncertain or assessment is required.
- ✓ Eliminate or minimise noise at its source before relying on PPE.
- ✓ Select hearing protection using assessed noise levels and appropriate SLC80/Class information.
- ✓ Check fit while workers are wearing their normal glasses, helmets, respirators and other PPE.
- ✓ Train workers in correct fitting, use, cleaning, inspection and storage.
- ✓ Clearly identify hearing-protection areas where required.
- ✓ Review controls when machinery, processes, workloads or noise conditions change.
Hearing protection available from AusTech
AusTech supplies hearing protection for workshops, manufacturing facilities, fabrication businesses and trade environments, including both earmuffs and earplugs.
Frequently asked questions
Is 85 dB(A) a safe workplace noise level?
Not in the sense of being a target or guarantee of safety. 85 dB(A) LAeq,8h forms part of Australia's workplace noise exposure standard. Noise should still be eliminated or minimised below the exposure standard where reasonably practicable.
Is Class 5 hearing protection always the best choice?
No. Hearing protection should provide appropriate attenuation for the assessed exposure. Over-protection can unnecessarily interfere with communication and the ability to hear useful workplace sounds.
Are earmuffs better than earplugs?
Neither is automatically better. The correct choice depends on the noise exposure, required attenuation, task, environment, comfort, hygiene, fit and compatibility with other PPE.
Can I use a phone app to complete a workplace noise assessment?
Workplace Health and Safety Queensland advises that smartphone noise-measuring apps are not accurate enough for formal WHS noise assessments. They may indicate that further investigation is warranted, but they should not replace an appropriate assessment.
Do workers who wear hearing protection need hearing tests?
Potentially. Audiometric-testing requirements depend on the jurisdiction and the circumstances in which hearing protection is required. Queensland and NSW both have requirements applying to workers using hearing protection to control exposure above the workplace noise standard. Check current regulator guidance for your workplace.
References and further guidance
- Workplace Health and Safety Queensland, Managing noise and preventing hearing loss at work Code of Practice 2021, September 2026 edition.
- Workplace Health and Safety Queensland, Noise.
- Workplace Health and Safety Queensland, Audiometric testing requirements.
- SafeWork NSW, Hearing test requirements for NSW workers and hearing protection guidance.
Need hearing protection for your workshop?
Explore AusTech's range of workplace hearing protection, or speak with our team about the PPE and workshop supplies available for your operation.