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Home›Courses›Safety Training›Hearing Protection: Noise Safety and Loss Prevention

Hearing Protection: Noise Safety and Loss Prevention

21 minutesEN / ES / MLCCSafety Training29 CFR 1910.95 - Occupational Noise Exposure
Quick Answer

Hearing Protection: Noise Safety and Loss Prevention is a 21-minute online course that teaches employees how to identify hazardous noise levels, use hearing protection devices, and understand employer obligations under OSHA's Occupational Noise Exposure standard (29 CFR 1910.95). It is designed for workers in manufacturing, construction, and other high-noise environments and includes a downloadable certificate of completion.

Course Overview

The CDC estimates that 22 million workers are exposed to potentially damaging noise levels on the job each year. In 2022, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported more than 15,000 cases of work-related hearing loss, with 70 percent occurring in manufacturing. Noise-induced hearing loss is permanent, irreversible, and entirely preventable. Under 29 CFR 1910.95, employers must implement a hearing conservation program whenever worker noise exposures reach or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels. Failure to comply can result in OSHA penalties of up to $16,550 per serious violation.

This course prepares your employees to recognize hazardous noise levels, understand the mechanics of noise-induced hearing loss, and properly select and use hearing protection devices including earplugs and earmuffs. Your team will learn about OSHA's permissible exposure limit of 90 dBA, the 85 dBA action level that triggers hearing conservation program requirements, and the employer's obligations for noise monitoring, audiometric testing, and employee training.

What You'll Learn

  • OSHA noise exposure limits under 29 CFR 1910.95 - the 90 dBA permissible exposure limit and 85 dBA action level
  • How noise-induced hearing loss occurs and why it is permanent
  • Components of an OSHA-compliant hearing conservation program
  • Proper selection, fitting, and use of earplugs, earmuffs, and dual protection
  • Understanding Noise Reduction Ratings (NRR) and how to calculate effective protection
  • Audiometric testing requirements - baseline and annual hearing exams
  • Engineering and administrative controls for reducing workplace noise exposure
  • Employee rights and employer responsibilities under OSHA's noise standard

Who Needs This Training

  • Manufacturing workers operating stamping, grinding, or fabrication equipment
  • Construction workers exposed to power tools, heavy equipment, and pneumatic devices
  • Maintenance technicians servicing HVAC systems, compressors, and generators
  • Warehouse employees working near conveyor systems and powered industrial trucks
  • Supervisors and safety managers responsible for hearing conservation program compliance
  • Any employee whose 8-hour noise exposure reaches or exceeds 85 dBA

Regulatory Background

OSHA's Occupational Noise Exposure standard (29 CFR 1910.95) requires employers to implement a hearing conservation program when employee noise exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels. The program must include noise monitoring, audiometric testing, hearing protection, employee training, and recordkeeping. The permissible exposure limit is 90 dBA over an 8-hour TWA, with exposure time halved for every 5 dBA increase above that level. Employers must provide hearing protection at no cost to affected employees and ensure proper use. While occupational noise exposure does not appear in OSHA's FY 2025 Top 10 most-cited list, the standard remains heavily enforced in manufacturing and construction. Serious violations carry penalties of up to $16,550 each, and willful or repeated violations can reach $165,514. Hearing conservation programs must be continuous - there is no one-time compliance option - and audiometric testing records must be retained for the duration of each employee's employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Employers must implement a hearing conservation program when any employee's noise exposure equals or exceeds an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels (the action level). The program must include noise monitoring, audiometric testing, hearing protection, training, and recordkeeping. The permissible exposure limit requiring engineering or administrative controls is 90 dBA over 8 hours.
Yes. OSHA does not mandate a specific training format for hearing conservation programs under 29 CFR 1910.95. Online training can satisfy the requirement that employees be trained in the effects of noise on hearing, the purpose and procedures of audiometric testing, and the proper selection, fitting, use, and care of hearing protectors. Employers should supplement with hands-on fitting demonstrations where applicable.
Employers must establish a baseline audiogram within six months of an employee's first exposure at or above the 85 dBA action level (or within one year if a mobile testing service is used and hearing protection is provided in the interim). Annual audiometric testing is required thereafter for all employees who remain in the hearing conservation program.
The action level of 85 dBA triggers the requirement for a hearing conservation program, including monitoring, audiometric testing, hearing protection, and training. The permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 90 dBA is the legal maximum for noise exposure over an 8-hour workday. When exposure exceeds the PEL, employers must implement feasible engineering or administrative controls. Both are measured as 8-hour time-weighted averages.
No. Noise-induced hearing loss is permanent. Prolonged exposure to hazardous noise levels damages the hair cells in the inner ear, and once destroyed, these cells do not regenerate. Hearing aids may help but cannot restore normal hearing. This is why OSHA requires a preventive approach through hearing conservation programs rather than relying on treatment after the damage occurs.

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$24.95
per person
Volume Pricing
Team Size Price per Person
1 - 9$24.95
10 - 24$19.95
25 - 49$17.95
50 - 99$17.50
Subtotal $24.95
Language

This course is available in English, Spanish, and Multi-Language CC at no additional charge.

Certificate of completion included. Downloadable upon passing the final assessment.

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$24.95
per person