Excessive workplace noise is more than an irritation. It is a proven cause of permanent hearing loss, fatigue, reduced concentration and costly safety incidents. In Australia, employers are legally required to manage hazardous noise and protect workers’ hearing. The challenge is turning complex measurements, standards and legal requirements into clear, practical actions.
This is exactly where Anitech’s workplace noise assessment service stands out. It combines rigorous on-site measurements, detailed analysis and a personalised Compliance Action Plan to make OHS noise compliance straightforward, actionable and cost‑effective.
Why Workplace Noise Assessment Matters
A professional workplace noise assessment delivers value far beyond a decibel reading. It helps you to:
- Protect employee hearing by identifying hazardous noise levels and exposure patterns before permanent damage occurs.
- Meet legal obligations under work health and safety legislation, regulations and relevant Australian Standards relating to noise.
- Target your investments in engineering controls, hearing protection and audiometric testing where they will have the greatest impact.
- Reduce risk of enforcement action, such as improvement notices or Provisional Improvement Notices (PINs) from regulators like WorkSafe.
- Support productivity and safety by reducing fatigue, miscommunication and the risk of accidents in noisy areas.
Without reliable data and expert interpretation, it is easy to overspend on unnecessary controls or, worse, under‑control a serious risk. Anitech’s structured noise assessment service is designed to remove that guesswork.
What Anitech’s Workplace Noise Assessment Includes
Every Anitech workplace noise assessment is built around thorough on‑site work, careful analysis and easy‑to‑use reporting. Typically, the service includes 3+ hours on site and a further 3+ hours to compile your documentation, ensuring depth rather than a quick, surface‑level check.
Thorough On‑Site Measurements
Anitech assessors attend your site with all required safety documentation, such as SWMS, JSA and insurance certificates, so your internal onboarding is streamlined. Once on site, they perform detailed sound level measurements across relevant areas, tasks and shifts, rather than relying on a few spot readings.
This structured approach helps to accurately capture typical and peak noise conditions, including:
- Production lines and process areas
- Workshops, maintenance bays and loading docks
- Offices or control rooms adjacent to noisy areas
- Specific tasks, tools or items of plant
Static Noise Assessments of Workstations and Plant
The service includes static noise assessments of workstations and key items of plant. By measuring noise at fixed points, Anitech can map how noise behaves around equipment and in different zones, supporting targeted control strategies such as acoustic treatment, enclosures, barriers or layout changes.
Employee Noise Exposure Profiles vs the Noise Exposure Standard
One of the most valuable inclusions is the calculation of employee noise exposure profiles. Rather than just listing levels in decibels, Anitech analyses how long employees or employee groups are exposed to those levels across their shift.
From this, they calculate the actual level of noise exposure for each group and compare it directly against the relevant Noise Exposure Standard. This comparison answers the critical questions:
- Are employees currently above or below the exposure standard?
- Which roles or tasks are driving the highest exposure?
- Where is hearing protection mandatory or strongly recommended?
Because these calculations are provided for you, hearing protection selection and control decisions become much simpler. You do not need to guess whether you are over‑ or under‑protecting your people.
Colour‑Coded Workplace Noise Map
Numbers in a table can be hard to visualise. That is why Anitech provides a colour‑coded noise map of your workplace. This map translates complex measurement data into an intuitive visual snapshot, highlighting zones such as:
- Areas below the noise exposure concern threshold
- Areas approaching the exposure standard
- High‑risk zones where controls and hearing protection are critical
With a colour‑coded map, managers, health and safety representatives and employees can quickly understand where noise is an issue and why particular controls or PPE requirements are in place. It is also immensely helpful in toolbox talks and safety inductions.
Practical Recommendations to Reduce Workplace Noise
A quality assessment does more than describe the problem; it guides the solution. Anitech’s noise survey report includes practical, site‑specific recommendations for lowering noise at the assessed points. These may include:
- Engineering or design changes to noisy plant and equipment
- Isolation or enclosure of high‑noise sources
- Changes to layout, walls or partitions to reduce noise transfer
- Administrative controls such as task rotation or limited time in high‑noise areas
- Hearing protection strategies that complement, not replace, engineering controls
The focus is always on practical measures that can realistically be implemented in your workplace, prioritised by risk, feasibility and impact.
Personalised Compliance Action Plan Aligned with OHS Laws and Standards
Sorting through the noise‑related sections of OHS Acts, regulations and Australian Standards can be time‑consuming and confusing. To remove this barrier, Anitech provides a personalised Compliance Action Plan with every noise assessment.
This plan:
- Summarises the current noise‑related OHS legislation relevant to your business.
- Draws on requirements and guidance from applicable Australian Standards relating to occupational noise.
- Translates those duties into clear, tailored action items for your specific site and operating conditions.
Instead of trawling through dense documents, you receive a concise roadmap that shows what you need to do, in what order, to achieve and maintain compliance. This makes it far easier to brief senior management, safety committees and external stakeholders.
A Documented Noise Survey Report
The heart of the service is your documented Noise Survey Report. Compiled over 3+ hours after the site visit, it pulls together:
- Measurement methods and instruments used
- Noise levels at identified locations and tasks
- Employee exposure calculations
- Interpretation against the Noise Exposure Standard
- Noise maps, findings and prioritised recommendations
This is more than a compliance document. It becomes a key reference for day‑to‑day safety management, long‑term planning and decisions about plant upgrades, process changes and capital expenditure.
Scheduled Report De‑Brief by Phone
Technical reports can raise a lot of questions. To support you through implementation, Anitech includes a scheduled report de‑brief by phone after you have had time to review your documents.
In this session, you can:
- Clarify any technical points or terminology in the report.
- Discuss the reasoning behind specific recommendations.
- Explore practical options for controls given your budget and constraints.
- Confirm next steps in your Compliance Action Plan.
This personalised de‑brief makes it much easier to convert findings into tangible outcomes, and to communicate them confidently within your organisation.
Exclusive Ongoing Benefits for Anitech Noise Assessment Clients
Anitech’s support does not stop once the report is sent. Clients gain access to valuable ongoing benefits that make long‑term compliance easier and more affordable.
Discounted Retesting Within 12 Months
It is common to implement new noise controls or change plant and processes after an assessment. To help you verify how effective those changes are, Anitech offers discounted rates for retesting within 12 months of your original assessment.
This is ideal when you:
- Install new equipment or modify existing plant
- Add new production lines or change workflow
- Introduce new noise controls and want to confirm their impact
Retesting lets you demonstrate due diligence, confirm that noise exposures remain under control and update your compliance documentation with current data.
Reduced Rates for Independent Second‑Opinion Surveys
Not all noise assessments are equal. If you have recently received a report that you are not fully confident in, Anitech provides discounted rates when engaged as an independent second opinion.
This is especially helpful if you:
- Feel you are being pushed into extensive audiometric testing without clear justification.
- Have conflicting information from different advisors or providers.
- Need to confirm whether recommended controls are appropriate and proportionate.
An independent survey from Anitech can validate or challenge previous findings, giving you a reliable basis for decisions and helping you avoid unnecessary costs while still protecting workers.
When You Should Arrange a Workplace Noise Assessment
There are some clear triggers that indicate a formal noise assessment is required or strongly recommended. You should consider booking Anitech’s service when:
- WorkSafe has issued a PIN (Provisional Improvement Notice) related to noise risks.
- Employees raise concerns about noise levels, communication difficulties or ringing in the ears after work.
- New plant, equipment or processes are introduced that may increase noise levels.
- Hearing protection is being issued (earplugs or earmuffs) and you need to verify whether it is required, and if so, which class is appropriate.
- It has been several years since your last noise survey and your workplace has changed.
- Your industry or site type is known to have elevated noise risks, such as manufacturing, construction, logistics, mining, food processing or maintenance workshops.
In each of these scenarios, a current, well‑documented noise report and Compliance Action Plan will support accurate decisions on controls, hearing protection, audiometric testing and ongoing compliance.
How a Typical Anitech Noise Assessment Works
Although each site is unique, Anitech follows a clear, repeatable process to ensure consistent quality and compliance‑ready documentation.
1. Pre‑Assessment Preparation
Anitech will liaise with you to understand your operations, shift patterns and known noise concerns. They prepare all required safety documentation for the site visit, such as SWMS, JSA and insurance certificates, and confirm access requirements or inductions.
2. On‑Site Measurement (3+ Hours)
On the day of the assessment, an experienced assessor carries out on‑site noise measurements for 3+ hours, depending on site size and complexity. During this time, they will typically:
- Identify representative locations and tasks for measurement.
- Measure static noise levels at workstations and plant.
- Collect data for employee exposure profiles, considering typical shift durations and task cycles.
- Note observable factors that may affect noise, such as building layout or reflections from hard surfaces.
3. Analysis, Calculations and Reporting (3+ Hours)
After leaving the site, the assessor dedicates 3+ hours to compiling your report and documentation. This includes:
- Calculating employee noise exposures and comparing them to the Noise Exposure Standard.
- Producing a colour‑coded noise map of your workplace.
- Drafting a detailed Noise Survey Report with clear findings.
- Preparing a personalised Compliance Action Plan based on relevant OHS laws and Australian Standards.
4. Delivery of Your Report and Action Plan
You receive a complete package that typically includes:
- The full Noise Survey Report.
- Noise exposure profiles for key roles or employee groups.
- A colour‑coded workplace noise map.
- The tailored Compliance Action Plan with recommended steps.
5. Scheduled De‑Brief and Next Steps
Once you have had time to review the documents, Anitech schedules a phone de‑brief to walk you through the report and answer any questions. You finish the process with a clear understanding of:
- Where your biggest noise risks are.
- Whether your current controls and hearing protection are sufficient.
- What you need to do next, and in what order, to meet your obligations.
Making Sense of the Noise Exposure Standard
One of the most confusing aspects of workplace noise is the concept of the Noise Exposure Standard. Rather than focusing only on momentary peak levels, the standard considers how loud the noise is and how long people are exposed to it over a working day.
For example, a moderately loud noise sustained over many hours can be just as damaging as a very loud noise for a short period. The exposure standard captures this by combining level and duration into a single exposure value.
Anitech’s assessment does the complex calculations for you and explains the outcomes in plain language. The report clearly identifies:
- Roles or tasks where exposure is at or above the standard.
- Areas where you have comfortable safety margins.
- The likely impact of changes such as shorter exposure times or better controls.
This makes it easier to set priorities, justify investments and explain decisions to workers, managers and regulators.
From Data to Decisions: Controls, Hearing Protection and Audiometric Testing
Ultimately, the purpose of a noise assessment is to guide smart, effective control measures. With detailed data and a clear Compliance Action Plan, you can:
- Apply the hierarchy of controls, starting with eliminating or engineering out noise at the source wherever feasible.
- Select appropriate hearing protection based on calculated exposures, rather than guesswork, helping to avoid both under‑protection and over‑protection.
- Determine when audiometric testing is genuinely required and for which employee groups, avoiding unnecessary testing while still meeting obligations.
- Plan staged improvements over time, matching controls to budgets and capital planning cycles.
Because Anitech’s reporting is structured and evidence‑based, it provides strong support for business cases, procurement decisions and discussions with health and safety regulators.
Why Choose Anitech for Your Workplace Noise Assessment
There are many providers who can take a few noise readings. Anitech’s service is designed for organisations that want a complete, confidence‑inspiring solution that is ready for scrutiny from workers, management and regulators alike.
By choosing Anitech, you benefit from:
- Depth of assessment– Typically 3+ hours on site and 3+ hours of analysis and reporting, not a quick, superficial visit.
- Clear exposure profiling– Employee noise exposure is calculated for you and compared to the Noise Exposure Standard.
- Visual clarity– A colour‑coded noise map that turns complex data into easy‑to‑understand visuals.
- Action‑orientated documentation– A personalised Compliance Action Plan that links findings directly to practical steps.
- Legislative alignment– Your plan references relevant OHS legislation, regulations and Australian Standards, tailored to your situation.
- Personal support– A scheduled de‑brief by phone to unpack the report, plus ongoing access to discounted retesting.
- Independent perspective– Reduced rates for second‑opinion surveys when you need to validate or challenge previous assessments.
The result is a service that not only ticks the compliance box, but also protects your people, simplifies your decisions and supports long‑term, sustainable noise control.
Turn Workplace Noise from a Compliance Headache into a Managed Risk
Managing workplace noise does not have to be complicated or overwhelming. With Anitech’s workplace noise assessment service, you gain clear data, expert interpretation and a step‑by‑step Compliance Action Plan, backed by ongoing support and cost‑effective retesting options.
Whether you are responding to a WorkSafe PIN, addressing employee concerns, commissioning new plant or proactively improving your safety systems, discover now a comprehensive noise assessment is one of the most impactful steps you can take to protect hearing, strengthen compliance and boost confidence across your organisation.
