Employers shall make hearing protectors available to all employees exposed to an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels or greater at no cost to the employees. Hearing protectors shall be replaced as necessary.

OSHA requires employers to implement a hearing conservation program when noise exposure is at or above 85 decibels averaged over 8 working hours, or an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA).

Hearing conservation programs strive to prevent initial occupational hearing loss, preserve and protect remaining hearing, and equip workers with the knowledge and hearing protection devices necessary to safeguard themselves.

(a) Protection against the effects of noise exposure shall be provided when the sound levels exceed those shown in Table G-16 when measured on the A scale of a standard sound level meter at slow response. When noise levels are determined by octave band analysis, the equivalent A-weighted sound level may be determined as follows:

2024年4月24日 · Employers are required to provide employees exposed to hearing hazards with various hearing protection options. Employers must hold a training program each year about hearing protection to employees who will be exposed to more than eight hours of 85-decibel noise, or higher.

Learn about OSHA’s Hearing Conservation Program (1910.95) requirements, including noise exposure limits, monitoring, audiometric testing, and training to ensure compliance.

2025年2月28日 · The OSHA standard requires employers to provide hearing protection devices (HPDs) to employees who are exposed to noise levels above 85 dB. Earplugs are one type of HPD that can be used to reduce noise exposure. According to OSHA, earplugs must meet the following criteria: Attenuation: Earplugs must be able to reduce noise exposure by at least ...

OSHA sets legal limits on noise exposure in the workplace. These limits are based on a worker's time weighted average over an 8 hour day. With noise, OSHA's permissible exposure limit (PEL) is 90 dBA for all workers for an 8 hour day. The OSHA standard uses a 5 dBA exchange rate.

OSHA’s hearing protection requirements boil down to implementing a hearing conservation program for employees that enables the correct PPE to be obtained, monitoring of the noise levels within the building where employees work, as well as monitoring potential hearing loss in employees via audiometric testing.

OSHA's Hearing Conservation Program (HCP) is designed to protect workers from the harmful effects of noise exposure. The program mandates that employees working in loud noise undergo regular hearing tests. Employers must establish an HCP when workers are exposed to an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) of 85 dB (A).