April 28th each year is World Day for Safety and Health at Work, an event that aims to highlight key occupational safety challenges. The theme for 2025, “Revolutionizing Health and Safety: The Role of AI and Digitalization at Work,” will explore the profound impact of emerging technologies on workplace well-being.
This year’s theme is particularly relevant to those millions of workers for whom hearing health is a critical aspect of occupational safety – particularly those working in industrial, manufacturing, and high-noise environments. The advent of artificial intelligence (AI), smart hearing protection, and digital monitoring systems, means new solutions are readily available that can not only help prevent occupational hearing loss but also improve workplace accessibility for individuals with hearing impairments.
The challenge: noise-induced hearing loss at work
Despite an overall greater emphasis on health and safety in the workplace, noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) remains one of the most common occupational health risks, affecting millions of workers globally. According to the European Working Conditions Telephone Survey carried out in 2021, around 17% of EU workers reported being “often or always” exposed to loud noise at work, with the most common industries being manufacturing, construction and agriculture. But other industries also have an acute problem, with DJs/musicians, aviation workers and hospitality workers experiencing high levels of work-related hearing loss.
The reality is that any prolonged exposure to loud machinery, industrial noise, and even modern digital work environments with excessive audio exposure (such as call centres) can lead to irreversible hearing damage. According to the World Health Organization, over 1.5 billion people worldwide have some form of hearing impairment, with that number expected to rise to 2.5 billion by 2050. Occupational noise exposure is contributing heavily to this.
AI and digitalization: a new era in hearing safety
The good news is that advancements in AI, the Internet of Things (IoT), and smart devices are offering tangible solutions for real-time hearing protection, monitoring, and accessibility in the workplace.
AI-powered hearing protection: Modern AI-driven smart hearing protection devices allow the analysis of workplace noise levels in real-time and mean protection can be adjusted accordingly. And unlike traditional earplugs or earmuffs, these systems allow workers to keep situational awareness while still protecting against harmful noise levels.
Real-time noise monitoring with IoT sensors: Sophisticated IoT-enabled workplace noise monitoring systems can continuously track sound exposure and alert workers and employers when noise exceeds safe limits. This data helps companies implement targeted safety measures and ensure they comply with occupational noise regulations.
Smart hearing aids and workplace accessibility: AI-powered hearing aids and assistive listening devices (ALDs) are transforming workplace communication for workers with hearing impairments. New technologies such as the Bluetooth Auracast™ Broadcast Audio mean employees can seamlessly connect to public announcement systems, conference calls, and workplace communication networks.
Virtual and augmented reality for hearing safety training: Enhanced occupational safety training is now possible with VR and AR systems. Workers can experience realistic simulated hazardous noise environments and learn how to properly use hearing protection before facing real-world risks in the workplace.
AI-driven speech recognition for workplace inclusion: AI-powered speech-to-text tools and real-time transcription services are enhancing accessibility for employees with hearing loss. These innovations are particularly valuable in office environments, virtual meetings, and hybrid work models, ensuring that individuals with hearing impairments are fully included in workplace communications.
Hearing health: a shared responsibility
The promise of digital technologies to transform safety in the workplace is evident, ensuring that hearing health is prioritized alongside other safety measures, thanks to accessible and efficient solutions. Underpinning this must be a concerted drive by employers, policymakers, and workers to implement these hearing protection solutions and ensure compliance with workplace noise regulations. Employers must commit to providing assistive listening technology for employees with hearing loss and also contribute to raising awareness of the risks of occupational hearing loss. The European Hearing Instrument Manufacturers Association (EHIMA) continues to advocate for better hearing care policies, ensuring that hearing loss prevention is an integral part of workplace health and safety.
On 8 April this year, a policy debate “Why Hearing Care is Key to Tackling Demographic Change in Europe,” took place in Brussels. Hosted by MEP András Kulja, a member of the European Parliament’s Health Committee, the event brought together policymakers, industry leaders, and experts to explore the future of innovation in assistive technologies and medical devices, regulations and accessibility. One of the panellists, Dr. Stefan Zimmer, Secretary General, EHIMA, speaking about hearing care, workforce and productivity, noted that untreated hearing loss is a significant contributor to unemployment or under-employment, lost productivity, and earlier retirement. Dr Zimmer also pointed out that those who receive adequate hearing care can expect longer employment and are more likely to report success at work: for example, the Germany EuroTrak 2025 survey results found that 55% of employed individuals using hearing aids believe the devices enable them to work longer.
World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2025 offers an opportunity to embrace AI and digital solutions to create safer, healthier, and more inclusive workplaces – protecting people’s health, including their hearing, and where everyone, regardless of their hearing ability, can thrive.
