Occupational noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is the most common work-related health condition in Canada — and it is entirely preventable. Unlike a cut or a broken bone, hearing loss caused by years of noise exposure on the job develops silently and irreversibly. Workers in construction, manufacturing, mining, and industrial settings are at highest risk. Under the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act and Ontario Regulation 851 (Industrial Establishments), employers are legally required to identify and control hazardous noise in the workplace. If your workers are regularly exposed to noise above the regulated limits, failing to act is not just an OHSA violation — it is a guarantee of long-term harm. Here is what every Ontario employer needs to know about noise hazards and hearing protection.
- 1
The Ontario exposure limit for noise is 85 dBA as an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) — exposure above this level requires employer action under O. Reg. 851
- 2
Employers must first attempt to control noise through engineering controls (sound enclosures, vibration dampening, quieter equipment) and administrative controls (job rotation, reduced exposure time) before relying on hearing protection as the primary solution
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When engineering and administrative controls are not sufficient to reduce exposure below 85 dBA, employers must provide appropriate hearing protection (earplugs or earmuffs) at no cost to workers — and ensure it is worn
- 4
A written hearing conservation program is required whenever workers are exposed to noise at or above the regulated limit — the program must include noise assessments, control measures, hearing protection selection, and worker training
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Audiometric (hearing) testing must be made available to workers exposed to noise at or above 85 dBA — baseline testing should be done before or shortly after assignment to a noisy role, with follow-up tests at least every two years
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Workers must be trained on the hazards of workplace noise, how to properly fit and use their hearing protection, and the importance of reporting changes in their hearing — training records must be retained and available for MOL inspections
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Noise assessments should be conducted by a qualified person using a sound level meter or dosimeter — document the results, re-assess after any significant change in equipment or operations, and keep records on file
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Construction sites have additional requirements under O. Reg. 213/91 — ear protection is required when workers are exposed to noise that may be hazardous to hearing, particularly when operating heavy equipment, jackhammers, or power saws
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