Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Department of Labor Standards
OSHA Consultation Program
mass.gov/dols/consult

HEARING CONSERVATION PROGRAM
(CFR 29 1910.95)
Revised March of 2024

Note: The following model Hearing Conservation Program is provided as a guideline only. 
Employers must develop written programs that are specific to their companies’ needs.

In order to comply with OSHA 1910.95, Noise Standard, the following Hearing Conservation Program has been established for      (company name)                .          (insert name)     is responsible for the coordination of this program.
1. Applicability: 
This program applies to all employees of the company, including per-diem and part-time workers whenever they are exposed to noise levels at or above the OSHA Action Level. The program shall be provided at no cost to employees.
2. Noise Monitoring:
Employers must conduct noise monitoring whenever they suspect that employees’ exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels. The monitoring must be designed to identify all employees who should be included in the Hearing Conservation Program, and to enable the proper selection of hearing protectors.
Monitoring must be repeated whenever a change in production, process, equipment, or controls increases noise exposures to the extent that more employees are potentially exposed to noise levels over either the Action Level or Permissible Exposure Limit.
Noise monitoring will be conducted by    (insert name of responsible person)   . Noise monitoring has been done at this workplace in the following areas                             .
Monitoring was last conducted on   (insert date of most recent monitoring)   .     
3. Employee notification: 
The employer must notify each employee exposed at or above an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels of the results of the monitoring. Employees are notified by their supervisors via      
      indicate how employees receive noise monitoring results              .
4. Tasks with Noise Exposure above the OSHA Action Level:
The following work areas have noise exposures at or above the OSHA Action Level:  
							Shift		Noise		Hearing  
Department		Task		 		Length	Exposure	Protection?
	
i.e., Fabrication   	Press Operator      	        	8-hour		   90 dB	Mandatory
____________	____________________	_____		______	_________
____________	____________________	_____		______	_________
____________	____________________	_____		______	__________
The use of hearing protection (ear plugs or ear muffs) is: MANDATORY when noise exposure is above the Permissible Exposure Limit; OR when noise is at or above the OSHA Action Level but below the Permissible Exposure Limit and the worker has been identified as having hearing loss (Standard Threshold Shift) during the annual audiogram; OR when noise exposures are at or above the OSHA Action Level but below the Permissible Exposure Limit, and no baseline audiogram has been done.
It is recommended that hearing protection be worn at all times when employees are exposed at or above 85 decibels.
5. Hearing Protectors
Your company must make a variety of hearing protection devices available, at no cost to employees, when noise levels are at or above 85 decibels. There are many different types of both earplugs and earmuffs. Employees should use the type that is most comfortable for them to wear, and appropriate for the specific work environment. 
Hearing protectors must attenuate employee exposure at least to an 8-hour time-weighted average of 90 decibels as required by paragraph (b) of this section.
For employees who have experienced a standard threshold shift, hearing protectors must attenuate employee exposure to an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels or below.
You must provide training in the use and care of all hearing protectors provided to employees. You must also ensure proper initial fitting and supervise the correct use of all hearing protectors.
Hearing protection training will be provided by   (insert name of person doing training)     .  
The following types of hearing protection are available.
List here the types of hearing protections that are available and how employees can obtain their hearing protection:
6. Audiograms(hearing tests):
Baseline and annual follow-up audiograms must be provided for any employee exposed to noise at or above the Action Level of 85 dBA. These audiometric tests shall be performed by a licensed or certified audiologist, otolaryngologist, or other physician, or by a technician who is certified by the Council of Accreditation in Occupational Hearing Conservation and who is responsible to an audiologist, otolaryngologist, or physician. Audiograms will be provided by    (insert name of audiometric testing provider)     .
     Indicate how/when/where the employee will receive their audiogram         .
Testing to establish a baseline audiogram shall be preceded by at least 14 hours without exposure to workplace noise. Hearing protectors may be used as a substitute for the requirement that baseline audiograms be preceded by 14 hours without exposure to workplace noise.
You must notify your employees of the need to avoid high levels of non-occupational noise exposure during the 14-hour period immediately preceding the audiometric examination.
7. Training:
You must institute a training program for all employees who are exposed to noise at or above an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels and ensure that all affected employees participate in the program.

The training program must be repeated annually for each employee included in the Hearing Conservation Program. Information provided in the training program must be updated to reflect any changes in protective equipment or work processes.
The training will be conducted by    (insert name of person doing training)     and must include:
•	The effects of noise on hearing
•	The purpose of hearing protectors, the advantages, disadvantages, and attenuation of various types, and instructions on selection, fitting, use, and care 
•	The purpose of audiometric testing, and an explanation of the test procedures.
•	You must post in the workplace a copy of 29 CFR 1910.95, OSHA’s Noise Standard, and make copies available to affected employees or their representatives
Maintain a log of those that attend the training and the dates it is given and location of training.
8. Recordkeeping: 
Records kept as a part of the Hearing Conservation Program must be made available to employees or their representatives upon request.
Exposure measurements: You must maintain an accurate record of all noise monitoring measurements. These records must be kept for at least two years. These records are kept at  
   (insert location of records)    .
Audiometric tests: You must maintain an accurate record of all employees’ audiometric test records, including the following information, for the duration of each affected employee’s employment:
This record must include:
•	The name and job classification of the employee
•	The date of the audiogram
•	The examiner’s name
•	The date of the last acoustic or exhaustive calibration of the audiometer, and
•	The employee’s most recent noise exposure assessment
These records are kept at   (insert location of records)    .