The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is accepting nominations for the 2027 Safe-in-Sound Excellence in Hearing Loss Prevention Awards, which recognize organizations and professionals whose evidence-based programs and innovations help prevent occupational noise-induced hearing loss and tinnitus.
Established through a partnership between NIOSH and the National Hearing Conservation Association, the annual awards highlight measurable achievements in workplace hearing conservation while sharing successful strategies that other organizations can adopt to better protect workers’ hearing.
The nomination period closes August 19, 2026.
Two Award Categories
The awards are open to employers, organizations, researchers, and hearing conservation professionals in the United States and Canada and recognize achievements in two categories:
Excellence Award
The Excellence Award recognizes employers that demonstrate outstanding hearing loss prevention programs and “go out of their way to ensure the safety of employees’ hearing,” according to NHCA. Programs are evaluated on documented outcomes and measurable improvements in workplace hearing conservation.
Innovation Award
The Innovation Award honors individuals, organizations, or businesses that have developed and implemented new evidence-based approaches to preventing occupational hearing loss and tinnitus. Eligible innovations may include advances in technology, policy, outreach, education, program implementation, or noise control strategies.
Nomination Process
Both self-nominations and nominations submitted on behalf of others are accepted.
The nomination process begins with a letter submitted to Scott Schneider, coordinator of the Safe-in-Sound review committee, at [email protected].
The initial submission should include:
- Nominee’s name and contact information
- A brief description of the nominee’s hearing loss prevention or noise control initiatives
- Evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of those interventions
Eligible nominees will be invited to submit additional documentation before the review committee completes its evaluation.
Recipients are expected to be selected by December 31, 2026, and will be recognized during the NHCA Annual Conference, scheduled for April 2027 in Orlando, Florida.
The Safe-in-Sound Awards are sponsored by NIOSH, NHCA, and the Council for Accreditation in Occupational Hearing Conservation.
