When Hearing Protectors are Required
Employees must wear hearing protectors:
- for any period exceeding 6 months from the time they are first exposed to 8-hour TWA noise levels of 85 dB or above, until they receive their baseline audiograms if these tests are delayed due to mobile test van scheduling;
- if they have incurred standard threshold shifts that demonstrate they are susceptible to noise; and
- if they are exposed to noise over the permissible exposure limit of 90 dB over an 8-hour TWA.
Employers should provide employees with a selection of at least one variety of hearing plug and one variety of hearing muffs. Employees should decide, with the help of a person trained to fit hearing protectors, which size and type protector is most suitable for the working environment. The protector selected should be comfortable to wear and offer sufficient protection to prevent hearing loss.
Refer to 1910.95 Appendix A: Noise Exposure Computation for instructions and additional information for computing employee noise exposures.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
6-7. According to 1910.95, employees must wear hearing protectors for any period exceeding 6 months from the time they are first exposed to _____.
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