Hearing loss from a workplace incident has impacted one in 10 Australians, despite most saying ear protection is not necessary, a report has revealed.
Hearing Australia data released on Thursday surveyed more than 1000 people on their experience with, and avoiding, hearing damage.
One in four Australians think about hearing protection and use it at work or when undertaking noisy activities during their leisure time.
A quarter of respondents said they knew someone who has experienced workplace noise-related damage.
Eleven per cent o experienced damage from workplace noise themselves but one in three gave little thought to protecting themselves.
Hearing Australia's principal audiologist Karen Hirschausen said there are ways to mitigate risks.
"Safety is everyone’s business, and not just in the workplacee. Hearing damage can also occur outside work," she said.
"More than one in five respondents have either experienced hearing damage from leisure activities or know someone who has."
Women worried less about protecting their hearing than men while one in four millennials said they would be too embarrassed to wear earplugs or earmuffs in a loud environment.
Ms Hirschausen said many Australians don't understand how damaging events like concerts can be to people's hearing.
"Many people don’t fully understand the risk to their hearing in a nightclub or concert, and they overestimate the length of time they can spend in these noisy environments without hearing protection before risking hearing damage," she said.
"When people are in loud environments like this, they (need to) take steps to protect their hearing, such as having regular breaks and moving away from speakers.”
Ms Hirschausen believes workplace laws that stipulate noise-exposed workers should have their hearing tested when they start work, and then at two-yearly intervals, should be reinforced.
