The prolonged purr of an engine, noisy equipment, and grinding of natural materials are just some of the workplace noises that may directly threaten the health and safety of employees. Workers are in danger of damaging their hearing when exposed to more than 85 dBs of sound for eight hours on a time-weighted average. Noises can also cause damage to the inner ear, which can lead to long-term ringing in the ears or tinnitus. Under OSHA’s Occupational Noise Exposure Standard (29 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 1910.95), employers must take precautions to protect their workers from permanent hearing loss. Every workplace should have a hearing protection program in place when noise levels exceed 85 decibels. This guide is meant to steer companies in the right direction. 

Employers should first assess the noise levels present in the workplace using a sound meter, including the decibel level of the noise and the duration of exposure. It only takes a few seconds for a sound louder than 140 dBs to permanently damage a person’s eardrums. They should then look for ways to reduce the noise level if possible, such as: