OSHA · Free course
Noise & Hearing Conservation
How loud workplaces cause permanent, irreversible hearing loss — and how to prevent it: how noise damages hearing, how sound is measured (dBA), the permissible…
OSHA
Noise & Hearing Conservation
What you’ll learn
By the end of this course.
Explain how occupational noise causes permanent, irreversible noise-induced hearing loss and tinnitus, and recognize the warning signs — 1910.95(a); 1926.52
State the permissible exposure limit (90 dBA as an 8-hour time-weighted average) and the 85 dBA action level that triggers a hearing conservation program — 1910.95(a),(c); 1926.52(b)
Apply the 5-dB exchange rate and the Table D-2/G-16 allowable durations to understand how exposure time relates to sound level — 1910.95(b)(2); 1926.52(d)
Describe the required elements of a hearing conservation program: monitoring, audiometric testing, hearing protectors, training, and recordkeeping — 1910.95(c); 1926.52(d)
Describe audiometric testing and a standard threshold shift (STS) — an average shift of 10 dB or more at 2000, 3000, and 4000 Hz — 1910.95(g)
Apply the hierarchy of noise controls (engineering, then administrative, then hearing protection) and select, fit, and use hearing protectors — knowing plain cotton is not acceptable — 1910.95(b),(i),(j); 1926.101; 1926.52(b)
References & standards
Grounded in the source material.
- 29 CFR 1926.52 — Occupational noise exposure (Construction)
- 29 CFR 1926.101 — Hearing protection (Construction)
- 29 CFR 1910.95 — Occupational noise exposure / hearing conservation (General Industry)
- 1910.95(c) — Hearing conservation program (85 dBA action level)
- 1910.95(g) — Audiometric testing program and standard threshold shift
This is awareness training. It supports your program; it is not a substitute for site-specific procedures or hands-on competency where a standard requires it.
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