# Noise (occupational noise exposure) — OSHA medical surveillance trigger thresholds by substance

For Noise (occupational noise exposure), cfr section is 1910.95; action level is 85 dBA 8-hour TWA; pel is 90 dBA (8-hour TWA) per Table G-16; surveillance trigger is Exposure equal to or exceeding an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level (TWA) of 85 decibels measured on the A scale (slow response) or, equivalently, a dose of fifty percent; exam frequency is Baseline audiogram within 6 months of first exposure at or above action level; at least annually thereafter for each employee exposed at or above an 8-hour TWA of 85 decibels, recorded from its source on 2026-08-12.

- **Substance:** Noise (occupational noise exposure)
- **CFR section:** 1910.95
- **Action level:** 85 dBA 8-hour TWA _(verified: appears in the quote below)_
- **PEL:** 90 dBA (8-hour TWA) per Table G-16
- **Surveillance trigger:** Exposure equal to or exceeding an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level (TWA) of 85 decibels measured on the A scale (slow response) or, equivalently, a dose of fifty percent
- **Exam frequency:** Baseline audiogram within 6 months of first exposure at or above action level; at least annually thereafter for each employee exposed at or above an 8-hour TWA of 85 decibels
- **Record retention:** Noise exposure measurement records: two years; audiometric test records: duration of the affected employee's employment

## What the source says

> The employer shall establish and maintain an audiometric testing program as provided in this paragraph by making audiometric testing available to all employees whose exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels.

## Source

- https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/29/1910.95

Last verified: 2026-08-12. Review by: 2027-02-08.
Part of [OSHA medical surveillance trigger thresholds by substance](https://referencesource.org/osha-medical-surveillance-triggers/).