Noise

Overview

Most of us take our hearing for granted. When we go home after work and when we get up in the morning, we expect to hear. Human hearing is amazingly sensitive. Our ears can distinguish 400,000 different sounds and can detect sounds so quiet they cause the eardrum to vibrate less than 1/80 millionth of an inch. But that remarkable sensitivity does not have a lifetime guarantee.

Noise-induced hearing loss is the term for hearing damaged by exposure to excessive noise. The damage to hearing caused by too much noise may not be apparent for years. Hearing loss cannot be cured, but it can be prevented.

All available content

Publications

Brochures/Guides
- Hearing protection guide
  Describes how to lessen the impact of hearing loss on the job.
  English Order printed copy 03/13/2023
- Occupational safety for the death care industry
  Developed in partnership with the Oregon Mortuary and Cemetery Board to emphasize industry hazards, provide recommendations, and highlight related Oregon OSHA standards.
  English 09/23/2014
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Hazard Assessment
  Explains how to conduct a PPE hazard assessment and when employees should use PPE.
  English Order printed copy 06/30/2023
Checklists
- Noise: hearing conservation
  Checklist for noise - hearing conservation.
  English
Fact sheets
- Hearing protection
  Explains when employers must provide hearing protection and how to choose the right hearing protection for employees.
  English 04/14/2018
- Noise exposure
  Gives a summary of the major requirements of the Occupational Noise Exposure rules.
  English 05/14/2024
Quick facts
- Equipo de protección personal (EPP)
  Personal protective equipment (PPE)
  Explica el equipo y la capacitación que su empleador debe brindarle para protegerlo de los peligros en el trabajo. - | - Explains the equipment and training your employer must provide to protect you from hazards at work.
  English / Spanish 09/26/2022
References
- Rules with requirements
  We get many calls and emails from employers asking the same question. It begins: “Which of your rules have requirements for…” You can finish the sentence with words like “recordkeeping,” “employee training,” and “written documents.” To answer those questions, we’ve organized these rules requirements into a filterable, sortable, searchable table.
  English 05/10/2019

Education and training

PESO
- Glosario Bilingüe de Equipo de Protección Personal (EPP) - Protección Auditiva
  Bilingual Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Glossary - Hearing Protection
  Common PPE hearing protection terms used by Oregon OSHA, in the “PESO” bilingual format. Términos comunes de protección auditiva EPP utilizados por OSHA de Oregon, en el formato bilingüe “PESO”.
  Training program English Spanish 08/28/2024
Workshop
- Hearing Conservation Program
  Workbook English 08/25/2005
- Hearing Conservation Program
  Instructor Guide English 08/25/2005

Rules and rule-related

Advisory Committee

Permissible Exposure Limits

Final Rules
- Division 1, 437-001-0700, Recording Workplace Injuries and Illnesses
  Administrative Order 4-2023
- Division 2, Subdivision G, Occupational Health and Environmental Control
  7-2013 Word version
- Division 3, Subdivision D, Occupational Health and Environmental Controls
  3-2019 Word version
- Division 4, Subdivision G, Health/Environment
  9-2006 Word version
- Division 7, Subdivision D, Personal Protective Equipment and Programs
  2-2010
Interpretations
- Clarification of representative personal sampling
  04/02/2001
- Clarification standard threshold shifts (STS)
  04/26/2005
- Presbycusis and OSHA 300 log (revised from August 4, 2000 memo)
  02/23/2005
- Recordkeeping - noise
  04/18/2016
Program Directives
- Exposure and Medical Records: Storage & Retention
  Purpose: To define and provide guidance as to the storage or retention location of required exposure or medical records.
  A-091 06/29/2000
- Medical Examinations: Employee Refusal to Have Required Medical Examination or Annual Audiogram
  Purpose: To instruct compliance officers on action to be taken if an employee refuses to have a required medical examination or annual audiogram.
  A-058 05/15/2000

Video Resources

Borrow from the Resource Center

Ear Protection
See available titles
Borrow DVDs about Ear Protection from the Resource Center
Hearing Protection
See available titles
Borrow DVDs about Hearing Protection from the Resource Center

Watch Online

English
- Hearing Conservation for At-Risk Workers grant project video
  Geared especially to construction and trades workers who may already have some hearing loss, this comprehensive training package covers: The nature of sound and how the ear processes sound; the causes and types of hearing loss; the importance of identifying noise hazards; and the use of the proper hearing protection for the work setting.
  Language: English Length: 15:16 minutes

Additional Resources

Technical Manual, Section III: Health Hazards, Chapter 5: Noise

OSHA/ NIOSH Safety and Health Information Bulletin: Preventing Hearing Loss Caused by Chemical (Ototoxicity) and Noise Exposure

Highlights

publication cover
Hearing Protection Quick Guide

Learn how to protect workers from noise-induced hearing loss