Noise is one of the most common workplace hazards. Workers in many industries and occupations are exposed to noise levels that are so high that their hearing can be damaged.

Sometimes the noise may not even be considered to be noise — such as the very loud music to which entertainers and food and beverage servers are exposed in bars and nightclubs. If the sound is loud enough and workers are exposed to it for a long enough period of time their hearing will be damaged.

Fortunately, work-related hearing loss is preventable.

Occupational exposure limits
for noise Exposure level (dBA)

Exposure duration

82

16 hours

83

12 hours and 41minutes

84

10 hours and 4 minutes

85

8 hours

88

4 hours

91

2 hours

94

1 hour

97

30 minutes

100

15 minutes

103

8 minutes

106

4 minutes

109

2 minutes

112

56 seconds

115 and greater

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