Purpose and Scope
This policy sets the requirements to protect personnel from occupational noise hazards at [Location/Site] under 29 CFR 1910.95. It applies to all employees exposed to an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) of 85 dBA or higher (the action level), along with the monitoring processes that identify covered roles.
[Role] acts as the Program Administrator. They oversee noise monitoring, manage the audiometric testing contract with [Provider], maintain hearing protection inventory, schedule annual training, and update program documents. [Location/System] maintains the current roster of enrolled employees.
Working through related paperwork at the same time? See also our Job Hazard Analysis Template, Noise at Work Procedure Template and NY Retail Worker Safety Act Policy Template.
Noise Monitoring
[Qualified Person/Provider] evaluates noise exposure using sound level meter surveys or personal dosimetry.
- Initial monitoring covers all work areas and job classifications where exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour TWA of 85 dBA.
- Conduct re-monitoring whenever changes in production, processes, equipment, or controls could increase noise levels or make existing hearing protection inadequate.
- Affected employees receive monitoring results and may observe monitoring activities.
- [Location/System] maintains monitoring records. Use these records to enroll employees, map high-noise areas that require protection, and spot processes that need engineering controls.
- Post warning signage at high-noise areas in [Locations]. Incorporate noise hazard mapping into new-hire orientation for affected roles.
Audiometric Testing
[Provider] provides free audiometric testing to enrolled employees under 29 CFR 1910.95 standards. Testing includes a baseline audiogram established within required timeframes after initial exposure at or above the action level, followed by annual testing.
If an annual audiogram shows a standard threshold shift compared to the baseline, follow this procedure:
- Provide written notice of the shift to the employee within statutory timeframes.
- Review the employee’s assigned hearing protection for fit and attenuation.
- Refit and retrain the employee on how to insert, wear, and maintain protectors.
- Refer the employee for an audiological or medical evaluation when required by rules.
- Investigate root causes, such as exposure changes, fit problems, or non-compliance, and implement corrective actions.
[Role] tracks all threshold shift cases until resolved.
Hearing Protection
- Employees receive hearing protection at no cost, with several suitable options available (earplugs, banded plugs, and earmuffs).
- Hearing protection is mandatory:
- In areas or tasks marked by warning signage at [Locations/Tasks].
- For employees exposed at or above the action level who lack a baseline audiogram or have a recorded standard threshold shift.
- Select protectors that attenuate exposure below required limits. [Role] keeps attenuation calculations on file.
- Supervisors enforce personal protective equipment compliance. Conduct fit checks when issuing equipment and during annual training.
- Stock disposable hearing protectors at [Locations]. Issue reusable protectors individually, clean them to manufacturer specifications, and replace them when damaged or worn.
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Engineering and Administrative Controls
Evaluate and implement feasible engineering and administrative controls to lower noise levels before relying on personal protective equipment:
- Engineering Controls: Buying low-noise equipment, installing sound enclosures and acoustic barriers, adding vibration damping mounts, performing routine mechanical maintenance, and fitting pneumatic exhaust silencers.
- Administrative Controls: Rotating schedules to limit time in high-noise areas, running noisy operations during low-occupancy shifts, and increasing distance between workers and noise sources.
- Document all evaluated controls, whether accepted or rejected, with technical and operational rationales at [Location].
Training Program
Enrolled employees must complete annual training covering:
- How noise affects hearing.
- Purpose, advantages, disadvantages, and attenuation ratings of available hearing protectors.
- Hands-on instruction and exercises on choosing, fitting, wearing, and caring for hearing protectors.
- Purpose and steps of audiometric testing.
[Location/System] maintains training sign-off records.
Records and Review
[Location/System] retains exposure monitoring data, audiometric test records, training documentation, attenuation calculations, and threshold shift case files per regulatory retention standards. Employees can access their personal exposure and testing records upon request.
Review this policy [Frequency], after any standard threshold shift, or whenever operational changes alter workplace noise levels.
- Policy Administrator: [Role]
- Revision Date: [Date]
FAQs on a hearing conservation program
What is a hearing conservation program?
A hearing conservation program sets the requirements to protect personnel from occupational noise hazards at your site under 29 CFR 1910.95. It applies to all employees exposed to an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) of 85 dBA or higher (the action level), along with the monitoring processes that identify covered roles.
Having it written down means the same rules apply to everyone, so managers are not making judgement calls case by case under pressure.
What does a hearing conservation program include?
This template covers noise monitoring, audiometric testing, hearing protection and engineering and administrative controls.
Every section is written to be filled in. The bracketed placeholders mark the decisions that are yours to make, such as timescales, approval owners and retention periods.
How to implement a hearing conservation program with Whale
Copy this template into Whale and work through the bracketed placeholders so it reflects how your organisation actually operates.
Assign it to the teams it applies to so it sits where people work rather than in a shared drive, and set a review date so it gets revisited on schedule instead of quietly going out of date.
Use our templates to fast-track your documentation
Customize this template and 100s of others for free in Whale, the fastest way to get your team aligned.