Employment Services

Audiometry

There are various reasons for doing audiometric testing for employees in the workplace setting. An employer may request testing:

At pre-employment to see if a potential candidate can hear a normal conversation. Called ‘screening audiometry’.

To see if a person’s hearing meets a company’s minimum specified hearing standards, also called ‘screening audiometry’ with minimum acceptability criteria set by a company. (Note: this testing does not meet regulatory requirements where a call centre/client facing company has a hearing conservation program due to workplace noise exposure levels.)

As a baseline as per the statutory requirements for the state the business is situated in. A legislative baseline test result is recorded and further monitoring testing will indicate the impact of any long term noise exposure. Specific reporting criteria and an ongoing monitoring program may be required, depending on the state.

Where workers are exposed to workplace noise and as part of a company’s hearing conservation program, where testing must comply with AS/NZS 1269.4:2014 Occupational Noise Management criteria. Called Occupational Noise Management Audiometry, employees who are tested will often use personal hearing protection in their role and need to undergo audiometric testing prior to commencing a new role. Testing will need to continue at a minimum, every two years (monitoring). Review and reporting requirements are specified.

Sonic HealthPlus clinics have audiometric testers that are appropriately trained to complete testing using procedures and equipment that comply with the relevant standards required to meet the specific workplace need. Only Legislative Baseline Assessments and Occupational Noise Management Audiometry will provide legally defensible results that will measure changes to hearing relevant to excessive noise exposure and assist to limit liability for future hearing loss claims as well as monitor the impact of noise exposure on a long term basis.

Audiometry Testing: How it works

Hearing tests measure what sounds a person can and cannot hear. Testing is performed by a trained operator in a quiet test room or sound booth that has been assessed and certified as suitable for testing. At Sonic HealthPlus we test hearing with calibrated audiometers presenting pure tone sounds through a set of headphones.

The simplest test of hearing ability is called Pure Tone Audiometry where the worker listens to a range of beep tones presented in varying degrees of loudness and pitch (frequency) and then responds by pressing a response button whenever they hear the sound. The loudness (decibels) of each tone is reduced until the worker can just hear the sound. The softest sound a person can hear is their hearing threshold for a particular frequency of sound. Both left and right ears are tested individually for a range of frequencies as per the steps determined in the Sonic HealthPlus audiometry procedure, by AS1269:4.2014 or relevant regulatory body where applicable.

The worker’s hearing thresholds are plotted on a graph/table called an audiogram which also captures their hearing medical history. Dependent on the type of testing requested, the results would be:

reviewed by the clinic doctor for normal hearing criteria and a copy provided to the worker if referral to a general practitioner is required
reviewed and submitted to the relevant regulatory body eg. WorkCover WA and a copy provided to the employee
reviewed by our specialised services team’s appointed doctor and a report issued to the employer and the employee as per AS1269.4:2014 requirements for occupational noise management and company hearing conservation programs

Bring: photo identification

Estimate appointment time: 10 minutes

Do: have 16 hours of quiet time before the test

Don’t: expose yourself to loud noises such as music, riding a motorbike or travelling in an airplane

Spirometry

A Spirometry Assessment measures the degree of airﬂow obstruction. This assessment is often used to assess for asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and a number of other lung diseases.

Spiromety Testing: How it works

This assessment requires the patient to place a mouthpiece just past their teeth, inhale completely until the lungs are full and then blast out the air as fast and hard as possible until the lungs are completely empty. For result validity, three acceptable and reproducible tests will need to be completed.

Bring: photo identiﬁcation

Estimate appointment time: 10 minutes

Do: refrain from smoking for 24 hours, drinking alcohol for at least four hours, vigorous exercise for at least 30 minutes

Don’t: wear tight clothing or eat a large meal at least two hours before hand

Fitness or Musculoskeletal

A Musculoskeletal Assessment or Fitness Test provides an evaluation of the condition and function of musculoskeletal health, lifting capabilities and any injuries that may impact a persons ability to safely perform the inherent requirements of their job.

Fitness or Musculoskeletal Testing: How it works

The assessment will likely include an evaluation of pre-existing injuries, posture, balance, range of motion, upper limb, lower limb, core strength, spine movement and lifting tests.

Bring: photo identiﬁcation

Estimate appointment time: 20 minute appointment for Fitness Test 20-30 minute appointment for Musculoskeletal Test

Do: wear appropriate clothing and footwear for physical exercise such as runners and shorts.

Vaccinations

Our clinics are equipped to deliver a range of vaccinations including influenza, hepatitis and travel vaccinations.

Flu Vaccinations

Each year we conduct a national flu program with the aim to protect people against the flu virus.

Benefits of providing a Flu Vaccination include:

25% reduction in the frequency of upper respiratory illnesses
43% reduction in absenteeism from work due to influenza related symptoms
36% reduction in absenteeism due to illnesses
Cost benefit to employers is at least $25 per person vaccinated.

Travel Vaccinations

Our Travel Doctor–TMVC health professionals can provide you and your workforce with a full range of travel vaccinations, travel accessories and travel health plans.

For more information regarding our travel health services, contact our client partner team on the below web form.

Flu Vaccinations: How it works

We offer two models for delivering vaccinations:

Onsite: where we send a specialised vaccination team to your workplace at a time and date convenient to you

In-Clinic: where we provide pre-paid flu vouchers for you to hand out to your team so they can attend any of our clinics located across the country to receive their flu vaccine.

If you would like more information about our flu program please visit our flu pages.

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Drug and Alcohol Screening

The type of drug detected will vary depending on the test. Instant testing services are NATA accredited (AS/NZS 4308:2008) and have a quick turnaround time for results. A non-negative urine drug test result requires mandatory GCMS or LCMS confirmatory testing.

Drug and Alcohol Screening: How it works

A Drug and Alcohol Screening test usually involves the patient providing a sample of urine or saliva for testing of drugs and sometimes alcohol. The patient may also be required to blow into a breathalyser to provide a blood-alcohol concentration result.

Bring: photo identiﬁcation, a list of any prescription or non-prescription medication you may have taken over the past 30 days.

Estimate appointment time: 10 minutes for appointment + 10 minutes for administration

Don’t: eat or drink anything, including chewing gum and water, 20 minutes before the assessment.

For more information about our Drug and Alcohol Services click the link below.

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