In NSW, a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) must arrange and pay for audiometric testing when workers are frequently required to use hearing protection as a control for noise above the exposure standard.
When are tests required?
Clause 58 audiometric testing requirements commenced on 1 January 2024. A new worker covered by the requirement needs a baseline hearing test within three months of starting work, followed by a monitoring test at least every two years. For covered workers employed before 1 January 2024, the transitional deadline for their first test was 1 January 2026. Existing compliant tests do not necessarily need repeating just because the transition ended.
Review noise exposure and controls, keep testing arrangements current, and consult the NSW regulator about how the rule applies to your workplace. Audiometric testing is one part of managing hazardous noise; hearing protection alone should not replace reasonably practicable higher-level controls.
Source: SafeWork NSW: Hearing test requirements for NSW workers.