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Hearing Conservation for Orchestras: Management and Operations (OA)

by | Oct 22, 2025

A course for management and operations

This course will give orchestral management and operations staff training in the following areas:

  • An overview of the ear and hearing
  • Consequences of hearing damage from sound exposure
  • The incidence  of hearing damage to orchestral musicians
  • Workplace hearing conservation obligations for employees and employers
  • Orchestral hearing conservation programs
  • Planning, deploying and managing control measures
  • Musician’s hearing protection technology
  • What to do if it is too loud
  • Requirements for monitoring, planning and reporting
  • Managing a hearing injury

Course Information

Estimated Time: 1h05m

Categories:

Course Instructor

Ian O'Brien PhD Ian O'Brien PhD Author

Ian is a professional musician, audiologist and acoustics engineer. He has been working with professional orchestras and tertiary music schools for many years assisting with the development and implementation of their own hearing conservation programs. He has also been delivering training in this area to musicians, management, boards and operational staff for around two decades and has published widely in the field. He operates an audiology clinic dedicated to the hearing health and rehabilitation of musicians, is involved in developing hearing technology, plays horn for the Queensland Symphony Orchestra and is "improving" on the guitar.

 

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Introduction

Course Welcome
Lesson 1 of 1 within section Introduction. You must enrol in this course to access course content.

Module 1: Background & Overview 

Hearing and the Impact of Hearing Damage
Lesson 1 of 4 within section Module 1: Background & Overview . You must enrol in this course to access course content.
The Prevalence of Hearing Damage Among Musicians
Lesson 2 of 4 within section Module 1: Background & Overview . You must enrol in this course to access course content.
Understanding Sound Levels and Sound Exposure
Lesson 3 of 4 within section Module 1: Background & Overview . You must enrol in this course to access course content.
Sound Exposure in the Orchestra
Lesson 4 of 4 within section Module 1: Background & Overview . You must enrol in this course to access course content.
Has Quiz

Module 2: Hearing Conservation Programs

The law and workplaces
Lesson 1 of 3 within section Module 2: Hearing Conservation Programs. You must enrol in this course to access course content.
The Problem with Orchestras
Lesson 2 of 3 within section Module 2: Hearing Conservation Programs. You must enrol in this course to access course content.
Orchestral Hearing Conservation Programs – Overview, Monitoring and training
Lesson 3 of 3 within section Module 2: Hearing Conservation Programs. You must enrol in this course to access course content.
Has Quiz

Module 3: Control Measures

Control Measures Overview and the Hierarchy Explained
Lesson 1 of 4 within section Module 3: Control Measures. You must enrol in this course to access course content.
Engineered Controls
Lesson 2 of 4 within section Module 3: Control Measures. You must enrol in this course to access course content.
Administrative Controls
Lesson 3 of 4 within section Module 3: Control Measures. You must enrol in this course to access course content.
Personal Controls (PPE)
Lesson 4 of 4 within section Module 3: Control Measures. You must enrol in this course to access course content.
Has Quiz

Module 4: Planning and Administration

Overview
Lesson 1 of 4 within section Module 4: Planning and Administration. You must enrol in this course to access course content.
Hearing Conservation Plans and Reports
Lesson 2 of 4 within section Module 4: Planning and Administration. You must enrol in this course to access course content.
Sound Level Monitoring Programs
Lesson 3 of 4 within section Module 4: Planning and Administration. You must enrol in this course to access course content.
Managing a Hearing Injury
Lesson 4 of 4 within section Module 4: Planning and Administration. You must enrol in this course to access course content.
Has Quiz