Hearing Conservation Best Practices for Workplace Noise Protection & Control

Excessive noise is one of the most overlooked occupational hazards. Prolonged exposure can lead to permanent hearing loss, making proactive prevention essential for employee safety and regulatory compliance.

Want to better protect employees while building a safer, quieter work environment? In our latest article, we outline practical hearing conservation steps, including how to monitor noise levels, implement protective equipment and comply with OSHA’s Hearing Conservation Standard.

Workplace noise exposure is one of the most common occupational hazards across healthcare and laboratory environments. Prolonged exposure to high noise levels can lead to permanent hearing loss, making hearing conservation programs a critical part of workplace safety.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires many employers to monitor workplace noise, implement hearing protection strategies and provide employee training when exposure reaches certain thresholds. Although some healthcare organizations may not fall under OSHA jurisdiction, these standards represent best practices and should be considered. Understanding how to identify excessive noise and implement effective hearing conservation practices can help organizations protect employees from injury.

Conducting Workplace Noise Assessments

A key step in protecting employees from occupational noise exposure is conducting a workplace noise assessment. Safety professionals often use a noise dosimeter or sound level meter to measure decibel levels across different areas of a facility.

Noise monitoring helps determine whether employees are exposed to sound levels that exceed established safety limits. A dosimeter can measure noise exposure over an entire work shift, providing a time-weighted average that reflects the employee’s total exposure. These measurements help employers determine whether hearing conservation programs and hearing protection are required.

Key Noise Assessment Steps

• Use a dosimeter to conduct decibel-level screening in areas where excessive noise is a concern.
• Identify areas over 85 decibels (document results).
• Periodically monitor these areas for increased noise levels (due to changes in equipment, processes or controls).
• Determine how much time employees spend in these areas and monitor changes in time spent.
• Provide hearing protection (earplugs, custom molded earplugs, noise-reducing earmuffs, canal caps, electronic active hearing protection).
• Post signage in areas exceeding 85 decibels: “Hearing protection required.” (This is particularly important if employees are spending extended time in the area.)
• Document all findings of the above processes.

Common Sources of Occupational Noise Hazards

Many workplaces, especially in the healthcare industry, contain equipment or processes that produce excessive noise. Common sources of occupational noise hazards include:

• Mechanical equipment and generators
• HVAC systems and compressors
• Nearby construction or maintenance activities

Because noise exposure can vary throughout the day depending on operations, conducting routine noise assessments helps organizations identify areas with the highest noise levels and determine whether hearing protection may be necessary to keep employees safe.

OSHA Hearing Conservation Standard Overview

The OSHA Hearing Conservation Standard (29 CFR 1910.95) establishes guidelines to protect workers from occupational noise exposure that can cause hearing loss. It applies to general industry employers whose workers are exposed to high noise levels, but healthcare organizations can use these as best practices to improve workplace safety. Here’s a clear summary of its key elements:

Permissible Exposure Limits (PEL): 90 dBA as an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA)

Action Level: 85 dBA as an 8-hour TWA

Exchange rate: 5 dB increase halves the allowable exposure time

If employees are exposed at or above 85 dBA TWA, employers must implement a Hearing Conservation Program (HCP).

Hearing Conservation Program (Required at ≥85 dBA TWA)

When exposure meets or exceeds the action level, employers must implement a continuing, effective hearing conservation program that includes:

Noise Monitoring

• Measure employee noise exposure.
• Notify employees of results.
• Repeat monitoring if changes in equipment, processes, or controls increase noise.

Audiometric Testing Program

• Provide baseline audiogram within 6 months of first exposure (12 months if using mobile testing vans).
• Provide annual audiograms thereafter.
• Compare annual audiograms to baseline to identify Standard Threshold Shifts (STS).
• STS Definition: An average hearing shift of 10 dB or more at 2000, 3000, and 4000 Hz in either ear.
• If an STS occurs:
  • Inform employee(s) in writing within 21 days.
  • Refit/retrain on hearing protection if necessary.
  • Consider referral for medical evaluation.

Hearing Protectors

• Provide at no cost to employees exposed at or above 85 dBA.
• Ensure proper selection and fit.
• Provide a variety of suitable options.
• Employees must wear hearing protection when:
• Exposure is ≥90 dBA TWA, OR
• Exposure is ≥85 dBA TWA and the employee has an STS.

Training and Education

Must be provided annually and include:

• Effects of noise on hearing
• Purpose and use of hearing protectors
• Audiometric testing procedures

Record Keeping

Employers must maintain:

• Noise exposure measurements (2 years)
• Audiometric test records (duration of employment)

Engineering and Administrative Controls

Hearing protection alone is not sufficient when feasible controls can reduce exposure. If exposure exceeds the 90 dBA PEL, employers must:

• Implement feasible engineering controls (e.g., equipment modification, enclosures)
• Use administrative controls (e.g., rotating workers)

Employee Access

• Employees, former employees and their representatives must have access to exposure and audiometric records.

Why Workplace Hearing Conservation Matters

According to workplace safety experts, repeated exposure to high noise levels can damage the sensitive structures of the inner ear, resulting in permanent hearing impairment. Unlike many workplace injuries, hearing loss often develops gradually and may go unnoticed until significant damage has occurred.

Implementing a structured hearing conservation program helps employers reduce these risks early on by identifying hazardous noise levels and implementing controls that protect workers. Employees who are regularly exposed to excessive noise may experience early signs of hearing damage, including:

• Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
• Difficulty understanding speech in noisy environments
• Temporary hearing loss after leaving a loud area
• Frequently asking others to repeat themselves

Key Takeaways for Risk Managers

For the purpose of following OSHA best practices, be sure to provide routine monitoring, testing, training, hearing protection and records maintenance for onsite noise levels.

If noise ≥85 dBA → Implement Hearing Conservation Program
If noise ≥90 dBA → You must reduce exposure through engineering/administrative controls.

Employers who regularly monitor noise levels, provide employee training, conduct audiometric testing, and maintain accurate documentation are better positioned to protect their workforce and prevent long-term health impacts. These proactive safety measures not only support regulatory compliance but also demonstrate a commitment to employee well-being and risk prevention.

For more workplace safety resources or to request assistance with hearing conservation and other workplace safety initiatives, contact one of our Senior Risk Consultants Glenn Eiserloh, CHSP at glenneiserloh@lhatrustfunds.com or Steve Johnson, COSS, CHSP, COEE at stevejohnson@lhatrustfunds.com.