The Regulation
What OSHA's Hearing Conservation Standard actually requires.
29 CFR 1910.95 is the OSHA standard that governs occupational noise exposure. Here's what it requires, in plain English.
When It Applies
A hearing conservation program is required once employee noise exposure reaches or exceeds an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) of 85 decibels — OSHA's "action level." Above that line, the standard lays out five core obligations:
Exposure Monitoring
Measure noise levels employees are actually exposed to, organized by Similar Exposure Group (SEG) so the data reflects real working conditions, not assumptions based on job title.
Audiometric Testing Program
Baseline hearing tests within six months of first exposure (or one year with mobile testing, if protectors are used in the meantime), then annual testing to catch standard threshold shifts early.
Hearing Protectors
Protectors must be made available at no cost, in a variety employees can choose from, and required outright once exposure crosses 90 dBA TWA or after a confirmed standard threshold shift.
Training Program
Annual training covering how noise affects hearing, the purpose and limits of hearing protectors, and the purpose of audiometric testing — repeated every year, not just once at hire.
Recordkeeping
Noise exposure records kept for two years and audiometric test records kept for the duration of employment — available to employees and OSHA on request.
Common Mistakes
Where employers get caught off guard.
- Monitoring once, years ago, and never re-checking after new equipment or a process change.
- Missing the annual audiogram deadline for even one or two employees.
- No documented baseline audiogram for new hires before they start working in loud areas.
- Hearing protectors available on a shelf, but no training, fit-checking, or enforcement behind them.
- A written program that exists but doesn't match what's actually happening on the floor.
Which rule applies to you? 29 CFR 1910.95 covers general industry, including most manufacturing, food processing and oil & gas operations. Construction work falls under 29 CFR 1926.52 and 1926.101, and mine sites are regulated by MSHA under 30 CFR Part 62. The core ideas — measure exposure, protect hearing, test, train, document — carry across all of them, and we'll tell you which one governs your work.
Glossary: a Similar Exposure Group (SEG) is a group of employees who share the same general work activities and noise exposure, so monitoring can be done realistically by group rather than testing every single person individually.
We handle every one of these requirements for you.
This page is a plain-language summary for general information and is not legal advice. Always refer to the full text of 29 CFR 1910.95 or consult qualified counsel for compliance decisions specific to your business.