However, ear plugs and ear muffs should be a last resort after other measures to reduce noise have been tried. OSHA also requires employers to provide training on the proper use of such equipment. Workers have a right to witness the monitoring and should make sure that the noise is measured where people actually work and not in some other part of the area. Workers have a right to see the monitoring results. Such monitoring is required under the OSHA standard.
Workers have a right to see the results of their exams.
The following chart shows allowable exposure levels at various dBA which are all equivalent to a 90 dBA eight-hour average. For example, someone exposed to 95 dBA of noise could only be exposed for 4 hours. The standard says that all areas suspected to be over 85 dBA must be monitored. If noise levels are above 90 dBA, your employer must first attempt to use engineering controls to bring noise levels down below 90 dBA before relying on personal protective equipment. If your exposure exceeds 85 dBA averaged over eight hours, the OSHA standard requires your employer to provide you with annual hearing tests and a choice of free hearing protection.