The training, supported by CITB’s Industry Impact Fund, will bring together lived experience, behavioral science, health and safety expertise, and industry insight to create training that is both practical and impactful. 

There are an estimated 328,000 construction workers living with hearing impairments or tinnitus. With three in four construction workers exposed to hazardous noise levels, hearing loss is one of the industry’s most significant health, safety, and inclusion challenges.

The impact of this extends far beyond hearing, and untreated hearing loss can increase the risk of workplace accidents, affect communication, reduce productivity, and create barriers to inclusion on site. 

The pilot project will initially train at least 500 individuals across multiple organisations, including Bovis, Sir Robert McAlpine, Graham Builders, Kier, Wates, Ferrovial Construction Holdings Limited, Volker FitzPatrick, Mace, and Costain Group. These companies have all committed to deliver training at a site level and through their supply chain partners to capture people supervising and working on site. 

The training will include eight specialist free-of-charge training modules designed for individuals, managers, employers, and construction organisations, combining interactive e-learning, subtitled and BSL-supported videos provided by ITV and knowledge checks to maximise engagement and accessibility. 

Participants will learn how to: 

• Understand the different types and causes of hearing loss and their impact in construction environments 
• Recognise the everyday challenges faced by deaf and hard of hearing colleagues 
• Apply practical communication techniques that improve safety, collaboration and productivity 
• Create psychologically safe workplaces where everyone can thrive 
• Improve recruitment, onboarding and retention practices to attract and support deaf talent.

Vanessa Freeman, head of grant and funding products at CITB, said: “We’re really pleased to be supporting such an important initiative for the industry.

“Research suggests that around 26% of the manual construction workforce experiences some form of hearing-related condition. We need to ensure deaf awareness training becomes more widely available so that those struggling with hearing impairments in construction feel safe and supported at work, and those around them can recognise the challenges they face.

“The construction industry needs to recruit 41,200 extra workers each year for the next five years to meet demand, and training such as this will help to remove barriers to entry for those who may have previous felt they would not be able to work in construction.”

Teri Devine, associate director of inclusion and employment at RNID, said: “We are delighted to see the construction industry taking proactive steps to increase awareness of hearing loss.

“18 million people in the UK are deaf, have hearing loss or tinnitus, so building understanding of these issues is vital in the workplace.

“Not only do initiatives like this help facilitate safer environments, but greater awareness can support early intervention and foster more inclusive places of work, so everyone has the opportunity to succeed in their career.”

Mark Ainsworth, executive director of operations at Bovis said: “Too many people across our sector are living with hearing loss, tinnitus or other hearing-related conditions. By supporting this training initiative, we are helping to raise awareness of the risks associated with excessive noise exposure and equipping people with the knowledge needed to better protect themselves and their colleagues.

“But this is about more than prevention. It is also about encouraging our industry to adapt workplaces and behaviours to better support those affected by hearing loss, creating a more inclusive and psychologically safe environment for people already working in construction and for those considering a career in the sector. Bovis is proud to support this important programme and the positive difference it can make across our industry.”

The training is currently under development, and the pilot delivery will be launching next year, available free of charge via CITB.