Hearing Loss Level

When is noise become a problem?

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has recommended that all worker exposures to noise should be controlled below a level equivalent to 85 dBA for eight hours to minimize occupational noise induced hearing loss. NIOSH has found that significant noise-induced hearing loss occurs at the exposure levels equivalent to the OSHA PEL based on updated information obtained from literature reviews.

Action Level -OSHA considers a workplace that has a 85 Decibel or greater noise exposure for 8 hours to be a hazardous workplace. If a company reaches that action level the will need to conduct exposure monitoring and medical surveillance of employees.
Permissible Exposure Limit- This is the amount of exposure that OSHA says an employee can safely work at for 8 hours a day, for 30 years with no significant harm. This is 90 Decibels.