Noise-induced hearing loss has been called the most common permanent and preventable occupational injury. According to U.S. federal law, it is the responsibility of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration [OSHA] to regulate permissible noise exposure levels in the workplace. The OSHA CFR 1910.95 regulation requires employers first to utilize "engineering controls" to reduce noise levels in their work environments. Should these controls fail to reduce noise to acceptable limits, the regulation states that "personal protective equipment shall be provided and used to reduce sound levels."

Employers are also required to implement an "effective hearing conservation program" whenever employee noise exposure levels equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level (TWA) of 85 dB. As part of the conservation program, sound levels must be monitored and documented, and noise-exposed employees must receive annual training and audiometric testing, and be "fitted with hearing protectors, trained in their use and care, and required to use them."
 
Learn more about what you can do to implement a Hearing Conservation Program that puts people first from the information below.

Howard Leight is your resource for staying current with regulatory measures. Check here for links to local regulations, as well as other health and safety organizations' resources related to noise in the workplace.

In January 2007, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's EPA Office of Air and Radiation met with industry leaders to announce it received funding and approval in 2007 to update hearing protector testing and labeling regulations, which have been pending since 2003.

For nearly thirty years, the EPA has used the Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) as its yardstick to measure hearing protector effectiveness in reducing noise levels. This current EPA regulation uses idealized laboratory testing to generate the NRR. The proposals under consideration test the hearing protectors under conditions that are less-than-ideal, but more reflective of real-world usage.

Download our overview on the proposed regulation change here.

What You Need to Hear:

Best Practices in Implementing a Hearing Conservation Program