October is National Protect Your Hearing Month
Noise-induced hearing loss is permanent, common, and often preventable. Across many industries including construction, warehousing, ports, utilities, manufacturing, aerospace and nuclear, noise remains one of the most widespread hazards. NIOSH recommends controlling exposure to 85 dBA (8-hr TWA) or lower to reduce long-term risk. About 22 million U.S. workers encounter hazardous noise each year.
Why it matters on real jobsites
Hearing loss creeps up over time, quietly eroding communication and situational awareness until people start missing instructions, alarms, or back-up beepers. Beyond hearing difficulty and tinnitus, occupational noise exposure is associated with broader health concerns, including cardiovascular effects and depression, and it increases injury risk when workers cannot hear warnings. NIOSH also notes that certain ototoxic chemicals—for example, solvents like toluene and styrene or asphyxiants like carbon monoxide—can damage the ear or make it more sensitive to noise, compounding the risk in many operations.
OSHA vs. NIOSH: what employers should know
NIOSH sets a recommended exposure limit (REL) of 85 dBA (8-hr TWA). OSHA General Industry (1910.95) requires a hearing conservation program when exposures equal or exceed 85 dBA TWA, and it requires engineering or administrative controls when exposures exceed the 90 dBA PEL. In construction (1926.52 / 1926.101), employers must use feasible controls and provide properly fitted hearing protection where exposure exceeds permissible levels; state plans may apply stricter rules. Core hearing conservation elements include exposure monitoring, audiometric testing, hearing protection, training, and recordkeeping.
Five steps to strengthen your hearing conservation program 
- Assess — Measure typical tasks and shifts to identify where exposures approach or exceed 85 dBA TWA.
- Noise controls — Maintain, isolate, and spec quieter tools to reduce dB at the source and along the path.
- Work-practice controls — Rotate tasks and schedule loud work to reduce each worker’s time-weighted average and noise dose.
- PPE — Fit earplugs or earmuffs and replace when worn to reduce noise at the ear to safe levels. OSHA’s Hearing Conservation standard requires employers to train employees in the use and care of hearing protectors (29 CFR 1910.95(i)(4)) and to ensure proper initial fitting and supervise correct use (29 CFR 1910.95(i)(5)).
- Verify & document — Train, do fit checks, perform audiometry, and keep records to stay audit-ready, spot trends, and correct gaps early.
Helpful resources
- NIOSH Sound Level Meter app (iOS only, free): validated to be accurate within ±2 dBA; great for screening and education (not for compliance measurements).
- NHCA/OSHA/NIOSH Alliance — Hearing Protector Fit-Testing (PDF): practical intro and recommendations for conducting individual fit testing to verify protection for each worker.
- Chemical-induced hearing loss (ototoxic chemicals): quick read for teams working with solvents, metals, or CO alongside noise.
How Crane Tech can help
A strong, defensible hearing conservation program fits inside your larger safety plan. Our team helps employers assess needs, set effective controls, train teams on hearing protector use and care with proper fit checks (per 1910.95(i)(4)–(5)), and document what regulators expect—right alongside crane, rigging, forklift, and fall-protection training. That is Safety through Education.
Call 1-800-290-0007 to talk with a training advisor or get a quote today.