• Employers must implement an effective hearing conservation program if employee noise exposure is equal to or greater than an eight-hour TWA of 85 decibels.
• Employees must be trained on the hazards of excessive noise, be hearing tested when needed, and use hearing protectors if necessary.

Employers are required to:

• Administer a continuing, effective hearing conservation program IF employee noise exposures equal or exceed an eight-hour time-weighted average sound level (TWA) of 85 decibels measured on the A scale (slow response); OR equivalently, a dose of 50 percent.
• Institute a training program for all employees who are exposed to noise at or above an eight-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels, AND ensure employee participation in such program.
• Make copies of 1910.95 available to affected employees or their representatives and also post a copy in the workplace.
• Use feasible administrative or engineering controls where needed.
• Establish and maintain an audiometric testing program by making audiometric testing available to all employees whose exposures equal or exceed an eight-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels.
• Develop and implement a monitoring program if information indicates that any employee’s exposure may equal or exceed an eight-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels.
• Maintain an accurate record of all employee exposure measurements required.
• Make hearing protectors available, at no cost, to all employees exposed to an eight-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels or greater.
• Evaluate hearing protector attenuation for the specific noise environments in which the protector will be used.