It’s important that anyone who is regularly in a noisy environment at work wears appropriate hearing protection and has regular hearing tests. Every day in workplaces around Australia, workers are exposed to levels of noise which cause permanent hearing damage. There are laws that mandate employers’ responsibilities to ensure that their employees are protected. Permanent hearing loss is caused by continuous noise exposure, usually in the higher frequencies. A nearby loud explosion can also have the same affect. Once the damage is done, it cannot be reversed, but hearing protection strategies can prevent further damage. Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) is another result of exposure to the continuous, loud sounds of industry.