OSHA Decibel Regulations for Noise & Hearing

Imagine having to listen to noise as loud as a rock music concert while working. To prevent such workplace hazards, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets a variety of guidelines. According to OSHA, 30 million workers are exposed to harmful levels of noise every year. Most of the 24 states adopting occupational safety standards have regulations identical to OSHA's federal guidelines.

Standards

• Administrators must provide protective gear for workers once noise levels reach a certain decibel for a given amount of time. For example, an employee exposed to 90 decibels, or the equivalent of a screaming child, for eight hours per day must have noise-diffusing equipment. OSHA's noise scale reaches 115 decibels, or a level between a rock concert and an car horn, endured for 15 minutes per day. By comparison, humans reach the pain threshold at 140 decibels, or the sound of a gun shot or jet engine.

Noise Measurements

• Two instruments are used to measure noise. The sound level meter measures sound's intensity at a designated moment, making it essential for multiple measurements to take place. Typically, employers take sound readings throughout the workplace to map out noise levels. Dosimeters are similar to sound level meters, except they take an average reading of noise levels over time. For this method, a microphone is attached to an employee's clothing to monitor sound exposure over an eight-hour workday. Readings are then collected at the end of the day.

Hearing Conservation

• As part of OSHA's regulations, employers must host a hearing conservation program when noise levels reach 85 decibels, the same as an electric shaver, or higher over eight hours. Monitoring of employees' exposure to noise is included in the program. Employers must then notify affected employees if they are exposed to 85 decibels of noise or higher over eight hours of work.

Audiometric Testing

• Employees must be offered audiometric testing free of charge by their employer to determine any damage to their hearing by average noise levels above 85 decibels over an eight-hour period. A physician or technician certified by the Council of Accreditation in Occupational Hearing Conservation must carry out testing. Employers must establish a baseline audiogram within six months of an employee's exposure to noise levels in excess of 85 decibels. Annual exams must be offered to employees following the initial audiogram.

Hearing Protectors

• OSHA requires hearing protectors to be offered to all employees exposed to 85 decibels or more over an eight-hour period. Employees may choose from hearing protectors provided by the employer. The use of hearing protectors must lower workers' noise exposure to 85 decibels or less for an eight-hour shift. As noise levels increase, employees must be offered adequate hearing protectors.