General industry and construction, side by side
The same question has two answers because OSHA writes two sets of rules. A shop, plant, warehouse or office follows 29 CFR part 1910. A construction jobsite follows 29 CFR part 1926.
| Topic | General industry (29 CFR 1910) | Construction (29 CFR 1926) |
|---|---|---|
| The permissible exposure | When employees are subjected to sound exceeding Table G-16, feasible administrative or engineering controls are used first. If they fail to bring sound within the table, personal protective equipment is provided and used. The table starts at 90 dBA for 8 hours, 95 dBA for 4 hours, 100 dBA for 2 hours and 105 dBA for 1 hour.29 CFR 1910.95(b)(1), Table G-16 | Protection against noise shall be provided when sound levels exceed Table D-2. Feasible administrative or engineering controls shall be used first, and if they fail, personal protective equipment shall be provided and used. The table has the same values: 90 dBA for 8 hours, 95 for 4, 100 for 2 and 105 for 1.29 CFR 1926.52(a), 29 CFR 1926.52(b), Table D-2 |
| When a hearing conservation program starts | A continuing, effective hearing conservation program is administered whenever employee exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels, or a dose of fifty percent. That level is called the action level.29 CFR 1910.95(c)(1), 29 CFR 1910.95(c)(2) | In all cases where the sound levels exceed the values in the table, a continuing, effective hearing conservation program shall be administered. The construction paragraph names no separate action level below the table values.29 CFR 1926.52(d)(1) |
| Measuring the noise | When information indicates that an employee's exposure may equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels, the employer develops and implements a monitoring program.29 CFR 1910.95(d)(1) | Section 1926.52 does not describe a monitoring program. The trigger is a sound level above the values in the table.29 CFR 1926.52(a) |
| Hearing tests | Audiometric testing is made available to all employees whose exposures equal or exceed 85 decibels. A valid baseline audiogram is established within 6 months of the first exposure at or above the action level, and a new audiogram is obtained at least annually.29 CFR 1910.95(g)(1), 29 CFR 1910.95(g)(5), 29 CFR 1910.95(g)(6) | Audiometric testing is part of the hearing conservation program that 1926.52(d)(1) calls for, and the paragraph does not describe the test schedule.29 CFR 1926.52(d)(1) |
| The hearing protectors | Employers make hearing protectors available to all employees exposed to an 8-hour average of 85 decibels or greater, at no cost, and replace them as necessary. Employees select from a variety of suitable protectors. Protectors are worn by employees who must wear PPE under (b)(1) and by exposed employees without a baseline audiogram or with a standard threshold shift.29 CFR 1910.95(i)(1), 29 CFR 1910.95(i)(2), 29 CFR 1910.95(i)(3) | Wherever it is not feasible to reduce the noise levels or the duration of exposures to those in Table D-2, ear protective devices shall be provided and used. Devices inserted in the ear shall be fitted or determined individually by competent persons.29 CFR 1926.101(a), 29 CFR 1926.101(b) |
| Training | The employer trains each employee exposed at or above an 8-hour average of 85 decibels, and the training is repeated annually for each employee in the program.29 CFR 1910.95(k)(1), 29 CFR 1910.95(k)(2) | Training is part of the continuing, effective hearing conservation program. The paragraph gives no training interval.29 CFR 1926.52(d)(1) |
What is OSHA's rule and what is not
| Level | What it says |
|---|---|
| OSHA requirement | The decibel figures come from the tables. The general industry action level of 85 decibels triggers monitoring, tests, protectors and training, and the 90 dBA permissible exposure triggers controls and protectors in both parts.29 CFR 1910.95(c)(1), 29 CFR 1910.95(b)(1), Table G-16 |
| Consensus standard | Noise reduction ratings printed on hearing protector packages come from the manufacturer's tests under consensus standards. OSHA's 1910.95 asks the employer to evaluate attenuation for the specific noise environment, using the methods in its appendix B.29 CFR 1910.95(j)(1) |
| Recommended practice | Many employers keep hearing conservation programs for construction workers at the 85 decibel action level of general industry. That is recommended, not required, by 1926.52.29 CFR 1926.52(d)(1) and 29 CFR 1910.95(c)(1) |
Does your state do it differently?
Some states run their own State Plan and write their own text, so the federal paragraphs above describe federal OSHA states. Look up your state on the State Plans page and read its rule before you rely on the federal wording.
What OSHA cited most under these standards in FY2025
| Paragraph | What it covers | FY2025 citations |
|---|---|---|
| 1910.95(c)(1) | Hearing conservation program at 85 decibels | 203 |
| 1910.95(d)(1) | Monitoring when exposure may reach 85 decibels | 103 |
| 1910.95(g)(1) | Audiometric testing program | 83 |
| 1910.95(k)(1) | Training for exposed employees | 70 |
| 1910.95(l)(1) | 46 | |
| 1910.95(g)(6) | 38 | |
| 1926.52(d)(1) | Hearing conservation program above the table values | 4 |
1910.95: 664 citations in FY2025 at 353 inspections, 38 of them at construction sites (NAICS 23). 1926.52: 4 citations in FY2025 at 4 inspections, 3 of them at construction sites (NAICS 23). Citation items issued Oct 1, 2024 to Sep 30, 2025, counted by HazComFast on U.S. Department of Labor enforcement data (extracted Oct 13, 2026). Inspected establishments, not the whole industry.
Mistakes that turn up in inspections
- Using 90 dBA as the starting line for everything in general industry. Monitoring, tests, protectors and training start at an 8-hour average of 85 decibels, the action level.29 CFR 1910.95(c)(1), 29 CFR 1910.95(d)(1), Table G-16
- Relying on protectors before looking at controls. Both parts ask for feasible administrative or engineering controls first, then protective equipment.29 CFR 1910.95(b)(1) and 29 CFR 1926.52(b)
- Letting employees pay for protectors or buying one size. In general industry protectors are available at no cost, employees choose from a variety, and inserted devices in construction are fitted individually by competent persons.29 CFR 1910.95(i)(1), 29 CFR 1910.95(i)(3) and 29 CFR 1926.101(b)
- Starting the audiograms late. The baseline is due within 6 months of the first exposure at or above the action level, and annual audiograms follow.29 CFR 1910.95(g)(5) and 29 CFR 1910.95(g)(6)
Free tool
Combine the noise levels and durations of a shift into an 8-hour average and compare it with the permissible exposure and the action level.