The Numbers Behind the Program
Under OSHA's general industry noise standard, two exposure levels drive most requirements. Both are 8-hour time-weighted averages.
| Level | What it is | What it triggers |
|---|---|---|
| 85 dBA (action level) | Point where a hearing conservation program is required | Monitoring, annual audiograms, hearing protectors made available, annual training |
| 90 dBA (PEL) | Permissible exposure limit | Feasible engineering or administrative controls; hearing protection required where needed |
Course Objectives
Explain how noise destroys inner-ear hair cells and why the loss is permanent
Recognize when a work area or task requires hearing protection
Select, fit and wear earplugs and earmuffs correctly
Understand baseline and annual audiograms and what a threshold shift means
Fit Is Everything
A foam plug that's barely tucked into the ear canal may deliver a fraction of its rated protection. The course walks through the roll-pull-hold method for foam plugs, how to seat pre-molded plugs, and why safety glasses, hoods and long hair can break an earmuff's seal.
Hearing loss also matters for crane communication. Operators and signal persons rely on radio and voice signals; workers with noise damage may miss them. Protecting hearing protects the lift.
- Roll, pull and hold for foam plugs
- Check the seal on muffs around eyewear
- Double up in very loud work
- Replace worn cushions and dirty plugs
Your Part in the Conservation Program
29 CFR 1910.95 requires employers with exposures at or above the action level to run a hearing conservation program, including training repeated every year. Construction noise is covered by 1926.52 and 1926.101, which require feasible controls and hearing protection.
The program only works if workers take part: wearing protection consistently, showing up for audiograms and reporting ringing or muffled hearing after a shift. Crews running pile drivers or working beside compressors and grinders are among the most exposed.
Noise rarely travels alone. The same tasks that are loud — grinding, chipping, impact work — throw particles and vibration, so the course points to tool safety and the broader PPE picture. Supervisors also learn why posting signs at high-noise areas and buying quieter equipment beat relying on earplugs alone.
Who Should Take It
- Pile driving and foundation crews
- Crane and equipment operators
- Mechanics and fabricators
- Plant and shop workers
- Supervisors managing noisy areas
Employer-run elements
Noise monitoring, audiometric testing, providing a selection of protectors and keeping records are employer responsibilities. This online course covers the training content workers need to understand them.