Hearing Conservation Standard

CCR Title 8 Sections 5095-5100 (GISO Cal OSHA), 29 CFR 1910.95 (GISO Fed OSHA)

Who does it apply to:

General Industry Employers

All employers whose employees are exposed to an excess of the OSHA Action Level for applicable noise levels (85 dbA, 8-hour TWA).

Additional requirements apply to those environments where employees are exposed to an excess of listed OSHA Permissible Exposure Limits (PEL) for applicable noise levels (90 dbA, 8-hour TWA).  The additional requirements for the employer are to conduct, documented evaluations of the feasibility of Engineering and/or Administrative controls to reduce employee noise exposures.

Construction Industry

The Hearing Conservation requirements do not apply, however, hearing protection plans must be implemented where employees are exposed to an excess of the listed OSHA PEL (90 dbA, 8-hour TWA).

Noise Dosimetry Surveys

If surveys determine exposures are in excess of 90dbA for an 8 hour TWA, then:

The Employer is REQUIRED to Evaluate the feasibility of engineering and / or administrative controls for noise reduction

If engineering controls are not feasible nor successful in reducing noise exposures to less than 85dbA 8TWA, Then the following are required for GISO Employers:

• Written Policies and Procedures Development
• Equipment Selection
  • (Different types, models and sizes required)
• Affected Employee Baseline Audiometric Exams
• Initial Employee Training
• Program Maintenance
  • Effective Employee Re-Training (Annual)
  • Affected Employee Audiometric Exams (Annual)

-OR –

If surveys determine exposures are in excess of 85dbA, but less than 90dbA for an 8 hour TWA and voluntary engineering and / or administrative controls are not implemented, then:

• Written Policies and Procedures Development
• Equipment Selection
  • (Different types, models and sizes required)
• Affected Employee Baseline Audiometric Exams
• Initial Employee Training
• Program Maintenance
  • Effective Employee Re-Training (Annual)
  • Affected Employee Audiometric Exams (Annual)

This class is available for in-person training or online training.