Hearing Protection and Noise Exposure Control
Identifying high-noise equipment and areas in a warehouse, controlling noise at the source where feasible, selecting and correctly using hearing protectors, and knowing when noise monitoring and a full hearing conservation program are required under the occupational noise standard.
- Audience
- Employees working in or passing through posted high-noise areas, equipment operators, maintenance technicians, supervisors, and the program owner
- Review cycle
- annual
- Last reviewed
- 2026-08-15
- Revision
- 1
What is in the procedure
8 sections. Regulatory language is fixed and passes through verbatim. Sections marked customized get rewritten around your facility, your equipment, and your job titles.
- 01
Purpose
FixedThis procedure protects employees from noise induced hearing loss, which develops painlessly over years and cannot be reversed once it occurs.
- 02
Scope: High-Noise Equipment and Areas
CustomizedThis procedure applies to every employee, temporary worker, and contractor who works in or passes through a posted high-noise area, and to every task performed near equipment identified as a noise source.
- 03
Responsibilities
CustomizedThe program owner identifies noise sources, arranges monitoring when exposures may reach the action level, decides which areas are posted, selects the hearing protectors offered, and administers the hearing conservation...
- 04
Procedure: Identifying High-Noise Areas and Tasks
Fixed1. Inventory the equipment and tasks that produce noise, using the facility equipment list, manufacturer sound data where it exists, and reports from employees.
- 05
Procedure: Noise Controls, Monitoring, and Program Triggers
FixedReduce noise at the source before relying on protectors.
- 06
Procedure: Selecting, Fitting, and Using Hearing Protectors
Customized1. Offer a variety of suitable protectors so employees can choose one that fits, seals, and is tolerable to wear all shift: foam plugs, pre-molded reusable plugs, banded plugs for intermittent use, and earmuffs.
- 07
Procedure: Training, Audiometric Testing, and Records
CustomizedEmployees included in the hearing conservation program are trained annually, and the training covers the effects of noise on hearing, the purpose, advantages, disadvantages, and attenuation of the different protector...
- 08
References
Fixed29 CFR 1910.95 Occupational noise exposure, including Table G-16 permissible noise exposures.
OSHA references
Hearing Protection and Noise Exposure Control: 29 CFR 1910.95(a)
Every SOP generated from this template cites the paragraphs below, with a plain-language summary of what each one requires. Citations are informational and are not legal advice.
| Standard | Title | What it requires |
|---|---|---|
| 29 CFR 1910.95(a) | Occupational noise exposure: permissible exposure limits | Protection against the effects of noise exposure must be provided when sound levels exceed those shown in Table G-16 of the standard. The permissible exposure limit is an 8-hour time-weighted average of 90 dBA, and the permitted duration of exposure shortens as the sound level rises. |
| 29 CFR 1910.95(b)(1) | Occupational noise exposure: feasible administrative or engineering controls | When employees are exposed to sound levels exceeding those in Table G-16, feasible administrative or engineering controls must be used. If those controls fail to reduce sound levels within the limits of the table, personal protective equipment must be provided and used to reduce sound levels within the limits. |
| 29 CFR 1910.95(c)(1) | Occupational noise exposure: hearing conservation program | The employer must administer a continuing, effective hearing conservation program whenever employee noise exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 dBA, which the standard calls the action level. |
| 29 CFR 1910.95(d)(1) | Occupational noise exposure: monitoring | When information indicates that any employee's exposure may equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 dBA, the employer must develop and implement a monitoring program to identify employees to be included in the hearing conservation program and to enable the proper selection of hearing protectors. Under paragraph (d)(3), monitoring must be repeated whenever a change in production, process, equipment, or controls increases noise exposures. |
| 29 CFR 1910.95(e) | Occupational noise exposure: notification of employees | The employer must notify each employee exposed at or above an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 dBA of the results of the monitoring. |
| 29 CFR 1910.95(g) | Occupational noise exposure: audiometric testing program | The employer must establish and maintain an audiometric testing program, made available at no cost to employees whose exposures equal or exceed the action level, including a baseline audiogram and a new audiogram obtained at least annually after the baseline, each evaluated against the baseline for a standard threshold shift, with follow-up action when a shift is found. |
| 29 CFR 1910.95(i) | Occupational noise exposure: hearing protectors | Hearing protectors must be made available at no cost to all employees exposed at or above the action level, with a variety of suitable protectors to choose from, and employees must be trained in their use and care and given the opportunity to select from the available options. The employer must ensure protectors are worn by any employee exposed above the permissible exposure limit, and by any employee exposed at or above the 85 dBA 8-hour time-weighted average action level who has not yet had a baseline audiogram established or who has experienced a standard threshold shift. The employer must also ensure protectors are fitted properly at the outset and must supervise their correct use. |
| 29 CFR 1910.95(k) | Occupational noise exposure: training program | The employer must institute a training program for all employees included in the hearing conservation program and ensure employee participation. The training covers the effects of noise on hearing, the purpose, advantages, disadvantages, and attenuation of the various types of hearing protectors, instructions on their selection, fitting, use, and care, and the purpose and procedures of audiometric testing. |
Compliance checklist
What an inspector looks for
Noise sources and exposed employees are identified through a monitoring program, and monitoring is repeated whenever a change in production, process, equipment, or controls increases noise exposures; posting high-noise areas is facility practice rather than a requirement of the noise standard
29 CFR 1910.95(d)(1)
Feasible engineering or administrative controls are used where exposures exceed the permissible exposure limit
29 CFR 1910.95(b)(1)
A continuing hearing conservation program is administered where exposures equal or exceed the 85 dBA 8-hour TWA action level
29 CFR 1910.95(c)(1)
Every employee exposed at or above the 85 dBA 8-hour TWA is notified of the results of the monitoring
29 CFR 1910.95(e)
Audiometric testing is made available at no cost to employees exposed at or above the action level, with a baseline audiogram and a new audiogram at least annually thereafter
29 CFR 1910.95(g)
A variety of suitable hearing protectors is available at no cost, with employee choice and instruction on use and care
29 CFR 1910.95(i)
Employees included in the hearing conservation program participate in training that is repeated annually; documenting that participation is facility practice rather than a requirement of the noise standard
29 CFR 1910.95(k)
Waitlist
Generate this SOP for your facility
At launch you answer the facility questionnaire once and this template comes back with your equipment, your titles, and your sign-off sheet attached.
This page is informational and is not legal advice. Have a qualified safety professional review any procedure before it goes into service at your facility.