If noise at your workplace is loud enough, WorkSafeBC requires you to test your workers' hearing — and to keep doing it every year. This page sets out what Part 7, Division 1 of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation asks of employers: what counts as too loud, who has to be tested, how often, who is allowed to do the testing, and what happens to the results.
Hearing testing obligations for BC workplaces sit in Part 7, Division 1 of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation — sections 7.1 through 7.9. What follows is a plain-language summary for employers, with the operative figures and phrases quoted from the regulation itself. Where we describe our own service, we say so.
Section 7.2 sets two exposure limits, and an employer must ensure workers are not exposed above either one: an 85 dBA Lex daily noise exposure level, and a 140 dBC peak sound level. The first is an average across the working day. The second is a single loud event — an impact, a bang — measured at its peak.
The number that catches employers out is a different one. You do not wait until you are over the limit before acting. Under section 7.3(1), the duty to measure noise exposure starts if a worker is or may be exposed to potentially harmful levels of noise, or if information indicates a worker may be exposed to a level exceeding 82 dBA Lex. Eighty-two, not eighty-five: the duty to measure begins below the exposure limit.
Section 7.8(1) applies to workers who are exposed to noise that exceeds the noise exposure limits. Not everyone on site — the workers whose exposure is over the section 7.2 limits. Which is why measurement comes first. Until you have measured, you do not know who this applies to.
Section 7.8(1) sets two separate requirements: an initial hearing test as soon as practicable after employment starts, and in any case not later than 6 months after the start of employment; then a test at least once every 12 months after the initial test.
So a new hire carries a deadline of their own — six months from their start date — and it is easy to miss when someone joins between annual testing days.
This is the part most often described loosely. Section 7.8(2) requires that hearing tests be administered by "a hearing tester authorized by the Board." "The Board" is the Workers' Compensation Board, which operates as WorkSafeBC. The regulation itself says nothing further about the tester's qualifications — that sits in WorkSafeBC's certification programme rather than in the regulation.
Where we fit. Clear Work is a WorkSafeBC-authorized Industrial Audiometric Business, IAB #436, and our technicians hold the Industrial Audiometric Technician qualification. We bring mobile hearing testing to worksites across British Columbia. We also test for WorkSafeBC's Construction Industry Program, so construction companies in classification units starting with 72 don't pay directly for each worker tested.
Employers sometimes treat the annual hearing test as the whole obligation. It is one element of seven.
Two separate duties here, and they are often confused.
Sending results to WorkSafeBC. Section 7.8(3) requires the employer to ensure that "the authorized hearing tester sends the test results to the Board." Read it closely: the duty sits with the employer, and it is a duty to ensure the tester sends them. The employer does not send the results — but the employer is responsible for making sure they go.
Clear Work submits the occupational hearing testing results to WorkSafeBC as part of our service.
Records you keep yourself. Section 7.9 is a separate obligation that stays with the employer. It covers three things: each worker's annual hearing test results, the education and training provided to workers, and the results of noise exposure measurements taken under section 7.3. The test results must be kept as long as that worker is employed by the employer, and kept confidential — not released to anyone without the written permission of the worker, or as otherwise required by law.
Where noise in the workplace exceeds either of the noise exposure limits, section 7.5 requires the employer to develop and implement an effective noise control and hearing conservation program with seven elements:
Hearing tests are element (f) of seven. An inspector asking about your hearing conservation program is asking about all of them. Section 7.6 adds that where workers are exposed above a noise exposure limit, the employer must investigate engineered noise control options and implement them when practicable. Protection is what you do when you cannot fix the noise itself — not instead of trying.
Section 7.7 applies when it is not practicable to reduce noise levels to or below the exposure limits. The employer must then reduce noise exposure to the lowest level practicable, post warning signs in the noise hazard areas, give affected workers hearing protection that meets CSA Standard Z94.2-02 and maintain it so that it continues to meet that standard, and ensure that hearing protection is "worn effectively" in noise hazard areas. Workers in a posted noise hazard area must wear hearing protection.
Note that last part. Issuing protection is not the requirement — it has to be worn, and worn effectively. Custom-fitted hearing protection is one way employers address fit and comfort, and impressions can be taken during a testing visit.
The regulatory content on this page is drawn from the WorkSafeBC Occupational Health and Safety Regulation, Part 7 — Noise, Vibration, Radiation and Temperature, Division 1. This page is a plain-language summary for employers and is not legal advice. Refer to the current regulation for the authoritative text.
An initial test not later than 6 months after the start of employment, then a test at least once every 12 months after that — for workers exposed above the noise exposure limits.
The employer must ensure the authorized hearing tester sends results to the Board, and separately must keep each worker's annual results for as long as that worker is employed, kept confidential.
Hearing tests are one of seven required elements, alongside noise measurement, education and training, engineered noise control, hearing protection, posted noise hazard areas and annual program review.
The obligations above sit with the employer. What we provide is the testing itself — performed by a WorkSafeBC-authorized industrial audiometric business, delivered at your worksite, with the occupational hearing testing results submitted to WorkSafeBC as part of our service.
Testing happens inside our mobile unit, parked where your team works, so nobody travels to a clinic. Each mobile unit can test 50+ employees per day, and ear impressions for custom hearing protection can be taken during the same visit. See what to expect on a testing day.
Section 7.9 keeps the record-keeping duty with you. Each employee receives their individual results, and you receive an organized summary report for your hearing conservation records.
Clear Work clients also get a login to our client portal, so your testing records sit on one dashboard rather than in an inbox. When WorkSafeBC asks, you log in.
Clear Health Group delivers mobile occupational health and RN-led home services across British Columbia - including the Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley, Vancouver Island, and the BC Interior. Our team travels directly to worksites and homes, eliminating the need for clinic visits.
Currently serving major BC municipalities including:
Clear Health Group supports employers with reliable, structured mobile health services designed to simplify compliance and reduce operational disruption. Families trust our RN-led team for professional in-home care delivered with consistency and clinical oversight.
We recently used Clear Health Group for our company-wide annual hearing testing and respirator fit testing across two locations and two days. … Seamless and professional.
They showed up to our jobsite in Duncan, on time and were well prepared for our team to have their fit tests done on site.
Wonderful experience! Noah was lovely to coordinate with and the testing experience was seamless for our team! Would happily book again for our next test. Cheers!
We got our mask fitting tests done by Amy. Both the service and attitude were excellent! Will definitely call them again for other services!
Great experience with Noah and Catherine. Showing up on time, very professional and on track for the schedule.
Definitely good at their job. Noah and Amy were at our construction job site and did a good job for testing. Helped all our crew on site.
Happy to have booked with Clear Work. Noah & Nina were fast, easy to work with, and readily available. 5/5!
ClearHealth is fantastic. Very accommodating and Noah is an absolute pleasure. Very friendly, quick services, very efficient! Highly recommend.
Friendly, professional and accommodating team! Pleasure to work with.
A great on-site hearing test experience. Katherine was kind, professional, and made the process quick and comfortable.
Overall it was a wonderful experience for the test. Very professional and good consultation regarding hearing loss prevention.
Ammy took my hearing test and it was an awesome experience. She was very professional, kind, and explained everything clearly. The test was done smoothly and I felt comfortable the entire time. I truly appreciate her patience and excellent service. Highly recommended!
Common questions from BC employers about what WorkSafeBC requires for workplace hearing testing.
Yes, for workers exposed above the noise exposure limits. Section 7.8(1) of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation requires an initial hearing test not later than 6 months after the start of employment, and a test at least once every 12 months after the initial test.
Section 7.2 sets two limits: an 85 dBA Lex daily noise exposure level, and a 140 dBC peak sound level. An employer must ensure that a worker is not exposed to noise levels above either one.
Section 7.3(1) requires the employer to measure noise exposure if a worker is or may be exposed to potentially harmful levels of noise, or if information indicates that a worker may be exposed to a level exceeding 82 dBA Lex — a lower figure than the exposure limit itself.
Section 7.8(2) requires that hearing tests be administered by a hearing tester authorized by the Board — the Workers' Compensation Board, which operates as WorkSafeBC. Clear Work is a WorkSafeBC-authorized Industrial Audiometric Business, IAB #436, and our technicians hold the Industrial Audiometric Technician qualification.
Section 7.8(3) places the duty on the employer to ensure that the authorized hearing tester sends the test results to the Board. Clear Work submits the occupational hearing testing results to WorkSafeBC as part of our service.
We bring WorkSafeBC-authorized hearing testing to your worksite anywhere in British Columbia, and submit the occupational hearing testing results to WorkSafeBC as part of our service.
