A hearing conservation program is an OSHA-mandated system to protect workers exposed to hazardous noise. It includes noise monitoring, annual audiometric testing, hearing protection, training, and recordkeeping. Companies need one to stay compliant, prevent hearing loss, and reduce long-term liability.
OSHA requires employers to implement a hearing conservation program when workers are exposed to noise levels at or above an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 dBA. Requirements include annual hearing tests (audiograms), training, hearing protection, fit testing, and proper recordkeeping.
A hearing conservation program is an OSHA-mandated system to protect workers exposed to hazardous noise. It includes noise monitoring, annual audiometric testing, hearing protection, training, and recordkeeping. Companies need one to stay compliant, prevent hearing loss, and reduce long-term liability.
A hearing conservation program is an OSHA-mandated system to protect workers exposed to hazardous noise. It includes noise monitoring, annual audiometric testing, hearing protection, training, and recordkeeping. Companies need one to stay compliant, prevent hearing loss, and reduce long-term liability.
If employees must raise their voices to be heard at arm’s length, noise levels may exceed OSHA limits. Employers should use dosimeters or noise monitoring equipment to measure exposure and determine if a program is required.
Outsourcing typically means hiring a mobile van or clinic once per year, while in-house programs let safety teams conduct audiograms, fit testing, and training anytime using boothless audiometers. In-house programs provide more flexibility, lower costs, and faster compliance.
Yes. Boothless audiometers using noise-attenuating headphones (such as the RadioEar DD65v2) meet OSHA and ANSI standards when combined with ambient noise monitoring. This allows compliant testing in offices, training rooms, or job sites.
At minimum, companies need a compliant audiometer (boothless or booth-based), hearing protection fit testing equipment, and access to licensed audiologists for test review. Modern platforms like Soundtrace combine all of these in one cloud-based solution.
In-house programs often reduce costs by 30–50% compared to mobile vans. Employers save on vendor fees, travel, and downtime since testing can be done onsite during shifts.
Employees can be trained through short online or live sessions covering OSHA requirements, testing procedures, and recordkeeping. Platforms like Soundtrace provide built-in training modules and compliance certifications.
Yes. Boothless audiometers with appropriate headphones and real-time ambient noise monitoring meet OSHA and ANSI standards. Compliance depends on following approved testing protocols, not on using a booth.
Dosimeters measure employee noise exposure over a shift, while real-time monitoring helps safety teams detect and address high-noise environments immediately. Both are essential for compliance and protecting workers from hearing loss.
Fit testing measures whether an earplug provides enough noise reduction for a worker’s unique ear shape. OSHA recommends fit testing to ensure hearing protection actually prevents hearing loss, since improper use can reduce protection by up to 50%.
Audiograms must be done annually, with a baseline test in the first six months of employment in a noise-exposed role. Fit testing should be performed at baseline and whenever new hearing protection is issued or if workers have trouble with proper fit.
Soundtrace eliminates the need for travel, mobile van scheduling, and downtime. Testing can be done onsite at any time, lowering per-test costs and saving companies thousands annually.
ROI comes from reduced vendor costs, fewer OSHA violations, lower workers’ comp claims, and improved productivity. Digital programs also provide data insights that prevent future Standard Threshold Shifts (STS), saving long-term health costs.
Yes. By providing more frequent monitoring, proper fit testing, and real-time noise data, digital programs reduce the incidence of STS and protect workers’ long-term hearing health.
Soundtrace integrates with leading EHS and compliance systems, enabling centralized data, automated reporting, and seamless workflows for safety managers.
Most organizations can launch in weeks, not months. With boothless testing and built-in training, safety teams can start testing employees and generating compliance records almost immediately.