Noise Exposure and Hearing Conservation

Talking points

1. The OSHA PEL for noise is 90 dBA over an 8-hour TWA with a 5 dB exchange rate — meaning every 5 dB increase halves the allowable exposure time. At 100 dBA, you have 2 hours.
2. In general industry, the 85 dBA action level triggers a full hearing conservation program including monitoring, audiometric testing, and training. Construction has no equivalent requirement.
3. Impulse noise (nail guns, powder-actuated tools, explosions) must not exceed 140 dB peak sound pressure level.
4. Noise-induced hearing loss is cumulative and permanent. It happens gradually — most workers do not notice until significant damage has occurred.
5. Engineering controls (quieter equipment, barriers, isolation) are preferred over relying solely on hearing protection. But when PPE is needed, insert it properly every time.

Ask the crew

What are the loudest tasks we perform regularly — and are we using hearing protection consistently for all of them?

Standards this talk is built on

• 29 CFR 1910.95
• 29 CFR 1926.52

A toolbox talk is a short safety briefing. It supports the training a standard requires; it does not replace it.

Sign-in sheet

Print this page to collect signatures, or run the talk in Jobsite and workers sign in on their phones.

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