Who needs an annual hearing test in BC?

The short answer

Any worker in British Columbia whose noise exposure exceeds the limits in section 7.2 of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation needs a hearing test under section 7.8: an initial test within six months of hire, and one at least every 12 months after that. The limits are 85 dBA averaged over an eight-hour shift (written as 85 dBA Lex) or a peak of 140 dBC at any moment.

The employer is responsible for arranging and paying for the tests, and they must be done by an industrial audiometric technician authorized by WorkSafeBC.

Which workplaces are usually over the limit

A useful rule of thumb: if two people a metre apart have to raise their voices to be understood, the noise is probably above 85 dBA. In practice that includes most of:

• Manufacturing and fabrication, from metal shops to food processing lines
• Construction, including workers covered by WorkSafeBC's Construction Industry Program, which we are authorized to test for
• Sawmills, wood products and forestry operations
• Warehousing and distribution with forklifts, conveyors and dock activity
• Trucking yards, transit and fleet maintenance
• Municipal works crews: roads, parks equipment, water and sewer
• Trades training programs, so students are tested before they enter the industry

What the hearing conservation program has to include

Annual testing is one part of the noise control and hearing conservation program that section 7.5 requires when workers are over the limit. The program covers noise measurement, education and training for workers, engineered noise control where practicable, hearing protection, posting of noise hazard areas, hearing tests, and an annual review of the program itself.

Of those, the hearing test is the piece that has a hard yearly deadline and an outside provider, which is why it is the one most employers book first. A mobile provider like us also helps with two other pieces on the same visit: custom hearing protection and one-on-one education when each worker hears their results.

What happens if a worker misses a year

The test is annual for a reason. Noise-induced hearing loss is gradual and permanent, and the yearly comparison is how a change gets caught early enough to fix the exposure. If someone is absent on testing day, we can test them at our Surrey office or schedule a return visit so your program stays complete.

Where to start

Count the workers who spend part of their shift in noise, note your shift pattern, and send us a booking request. We reply within one business day with dates and a quote. If you are not sure whether your workplace is over 85 dBA, read what 85 dBA actually means.