Noise exposure remains one of the more overlooked hazards under Australian OHS/WHS frameworks, yet it's also one of the easiest to manage - provided the instruments used to monitor it are working correctly. Audiometers and sound level meters sit at the centre of most workplace hearing conservation programs, and if either drifts out of calibration, the numbers they produce can no longer be trusted.
Two instruments, two different jobs
Audiometers measure a person's hearing ability and are used in clinical and occupational health settings to screen workers for hearing loss. Sound level meters (sometimes called noise meters) measure the noise level in an environment, helping businesses identify when a workplace has crossed into hazardous territory. Because the two instruments serve different purposes, they also carry different calibration schedules.
How often does acoustic equipment need calibrating?
Under Australian standards, audiometers should be calibrated and recertified once a year. Sound level meters and sound level calibrators generally need calibration every two years, although some manufacturers recommend annual servicing regardless of instrument type. Checking the specific requirements for your equipment - rather than assuming a blanket schedule - is the safest approach.
What happens when calibration lapses
An uncalibrated audiometer can return misleading hearing results, which can throw off both clinical assessments and workplace hearing conservation programs. An uncalibrated sound level meter is arguably riskier still: it may under-report noise exposure, meaning a genuinely hazardous environment looks safe on paper. Either way, the business is left exposed - to worker harm, and potentially to a breach of WHS/OHS noise regulations.
What Zenith calibrates
Our acoustic calibration service covers audiometers, noise dosimeters, sound/noise level meters, acoustic and sound calibrators, and impedance meters, across more than 26 brands. Having taken on the calibration, service and repair divisions of JTA Health, Safety & Noise Specialists, we combine broad brand coverage with a genuinely fast turnaround, so equipment isn't out of action for longer than it needs to be.
Getting it sorted
On-site, pickup and delivery options are available for businesses in Sydney and Melbourne, minimising the time and effort involved in getting equipment serviced. For more detail on the service, visit our Acoustic Calibration Service page, or get in touch with our Sydney team on (02) 9680 8765 or our Melbourne team on (03) 9562 0373.