What Is Occupational Hearing Screening and Who Needs It?

Occupational hearing screening is a health surveillance service for employees who are likely to be regularly exposed to high noise levels at work. Under health and safety law, employers have a duty to provide hearing checks for these workers. RB Health and Safety Solutions offers this screening as part of its occupational health services, alongside its audits, consultancy, and training. If your staff work in noisy environments, you can book screening through the company's website.

Who needs occupational hearing screening?

The trigger is regular exposure to high noise levels within a job role. The employer's duty applies to employees who are likely to be regularly exposed, not only those already reporting hearing problems. Roles that commonly fall into this category include:

• Manufacturing and production work around machinery
• Construction, demolition, and groundworks
• Engineering and fabrication
• Warehouse and logistics work with powered equipment
• Entertainment and theatre production, including sound and stage work
• Any role where staff must raise their voice to be heard over background noise for much of the day

The practical test is the job role and the noise it involves, not the individual's seniority or length of service. New starters in noisy roles and long-serving staff both fall within the scope.

What the screening involves

Hearing screening is a monitoring check, not a diagnostic medical examination. It typically establishes a baseline for a new employee and then repeats at intervals so that any change over time can be identified and acted on. The purpose is to detect early signs of noise-induced hearing loss while there is still time to reduce exposure.

Screening sits within the wider occupational health offer. On the RB Health and Safety Solutions site it appears alongside health and safety audits, consultancy, and training courses, so it can be arranged as a standalone service or as part of a broader health and safety programme.

How to arrange screening

1. Identify which roles in your organisation involve regular exposure to high noise levels.
2. Visit the RB Health and Safety Solutions website and use the booking option for Occupational Hearing Screening.
3. If you are unsure whether your workforce needs screening, or want it combined with an audit or consultancy review, contact the team directly to discuss your situation.

The site provides a contact route for questions, so you can confirm scope and scheduling before committing.

Where it fits in your health and safety management

Hearing screening is one component of a health and safety management system, not a substitute for controlling noise at source. Employers still need to reduce exposure through engineering controls, safe working practices, and suitable hearing protection. Screening complements those measures by showing whether they are working in practice.

Because the service is delivered by consultants registered with the Occupational Safety and Health Consultants Register (OSHCR), you can treat the advice as coming from a competent source when deciding how screening fits your wider obligations.

Common questions

Does every employee need a hearing check? No. The duty applies to employees likely to be regularly exposed to high noise levels in their role. Office-based staff with no significant noise exposure are generally outside its scope.

Is screening the same as a medical diagnosis? No. It is a monitoring check designed to pick up changes over time. Where results suggest a problem, the individual would normally be referred for further assessment.

Can it be combined with other services? Yes. The company provides audits, consultancy, and training alongside occupational health, so screening can be arranged as part of a wider review of your health and safety arrangements.

How do I start? Use the booking option for Occupational Hearing Screening on the RB Health and Safety Solutions website, or contact the team to discuss which roles need screening and how often.