The Workers' Compensation and Rehabilitation Act makes it compulsory for employers to arrange baseline hearing tests for all workers in prescribed workplaces . It is the employer's responsibility under the Act to arrange and pay for all WorkCover WA audiometric tests. All workers employed in a prescribed workplace must have a baseline test within twelve months of commencing employment. Workers may request in writing, a subsequent test annually from their employer. If you want to know if a worker has been tested you can contact the WorkCover Scheme Information Section.
Testing is required of all workers even if they are wearing hearing protection.
The first audiometric test conducted is the baseline hearing test and is the initial test from which further tests will be compared. It is the employer's responsibility to arrange and pay for this test. Should a worker be required to travel to have a hearing test, the employer is obliged to reimburse the worker for reasonable costs of travelling, meals and lodging. As part of the baseline hearing test a worker may be required to undergo a full audiological assessment. This more comprehensive test is only required by a relatively small percentage of the population.