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751 Hearing Conservation Program Management
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What Constitutes an Effective Hearing Conservation Program?

An effective hearing conservation program can prevent hearing loss, improve employee morale and a general feeling of well-being, increase quality of production, and reduce the incidence of stress-related disease.

worker wearing hearing protection giving thumbs up
An effective hearing conservation program has many benefits.

The employer should administer a continuing, effective hearing conservation program whenever employee noise exposures are at or above an eight hour time-weighted average (TWA) of 85 dBA or, equivalently, a dose of 50 percent.

Program Elements

As detailed in OSHA's 1910.95 rule, the elements of an effective hearing conservation program include the following:

  • Noise monitoring
  • Audiometric testing
  • Use of hearing protection devices (HPDs)
  • Employee training and education
  • Recordkeeping

There are also specific hearing conservation program requirements for agricultural, maritime, and construction worksites.

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.

4-2. Which of the following is an element in an effective hearing conservation program?