Department of Industry and Resources' Manager Occupational Health, Mike Rowe, said new findings confirm that noise-induced hearing loss is emerging as a significant occupational health issue for the Western Australian community and mining industry.

Western Australia's mining industry health database, MINEHEALTH, has found that the proportion of mine workers with a hearing loss more than five per cent (adjusted for age) has increased by 4.3 per cent over the past 5-6 years, despite high levels of industry compliance with existing noise control regulations.

Mr Rowe said the new findings correlate with WorkCover statistics on hearing loss, which puts the mining industry among the 10 leading industries generating five per cent or greater hearing loss.

"Several factors may have contributed to this trend, including the inappropriate use of hearing protectors. Noise inspections and audits conducted on minesites confirmed that workers prefer to wear earplugs rather than earmuffs," Mr Rowe said.

"The problem with earplugs is that they are only effective if inserted into the ear canal properly. If this is not done, then their effectiveness is substantially reduced and might still expose the worker to noise levels causing hearing loss.

"In addition, failure to wear any form of hearing protectors, even for very short periods, increases total noise exposure much more than would be expected. For example, if a hearing protector is not worn for 10 minutes during an hour on the job, the effective protection provided by a high grade (30 decibels) protector is only about eight decibels. That means the effective protection provided in that hour is reduced more than 100 times."

MINEHEALTH is a monitoring and assessment tool of the Department of Industry and Resources' (DoIR) Safety, Health and Environment Division. It is the first health database of its kind in Australia and is leading the way in the early detection of occupational health and safety issues in the mining industry.

In addition to the MINEHEALTH system, DoIR also administers noise control regulations under the Mines Safety and Inspection Regulations 1995.

DoIR has been working proactively to address the issue of noise-induced hearing loss on minesites. It is currently implementing this action plan with the first stage including consultation with all levels of the mining industry to develop additional strategies for noise control on mine sites.

Key industry representatives, including the Chamber of Minerals and Energy and the Mining Occupational Safety and Health Advisory Board, (which includes representatives from Unions WA and WorkSafe), will be working closely with the Department to develop practical ways to implement additional noise control measures.

Mr Rowe said the Department has already started its roll-out of an information program being carried out around the State. Information brochures and posters promoting hearing protection measures are being produced for distribution to industry and mine sites.

Department occupational health inspectors will also be increasing the number of random personal noise recordings conducted on minesites.

"These officers will help ensure minesite noise levels continue to be closely monitored," said Mr Rowe.

"They will also provide a physical presence to reinforce and encourage the ongoing adoption of safer noise-related work practices."