OSHA 29 CFR 1910.95 Appendix G — Monitoring Noise Levels (Non-mandatory) — Appendix G to OSHA 1910.95 is a non-mandatory informational appendix that provides practical guidance on methods for monitoring workplace noise levels. It describes the use of sound level meters and noise dosimeters, explains what each instrument measures, and describes how monitoring results are used to determine HCP enrollment obligations. This plain-language guide explains what Appendix G requires, what it means in practice for EHS managers, and how it connects to the broader OSHA 1910.95 hearing conservation program requirements. According to CDC/NIOSH, approximately 22 million U.S. workers are exposed to hazardous occupational noise annually.
Soundtrace delivers audiometric testing and noise monitoring that meets the technical requirements of all 1910.95 appendices — including ANSI S3.1 ambient noise validation per audiogram and ANSI S3.6 audiometer specifications.
What Appendix G Actually Explains
Appendix G addresses four key monitoring topics:
1. Instrument Types and When to Use Them
Appendix G distinguishes between sound level meters (SLMs) and noise dosimeters. SLMs measure instantaneous noise levels at a fixed point in space — useful for area surveys and identifying noise sources. Dosimeters measure cumulative personal exposure across a shift — required for individual TWA determination. For workers with variable tasks or mobile work patterns, personal dosimetry is required. See: noise dosimeter: OSHA requirements guide.
2. Representative Sampling
Appendix G acknowledges that monitoring every worker individually is not always necessary — representative sampling of job classifications is acceptable when the results accurately characterize each enrolled worker's exposure. The key test: does the sample result accurately represent the exposure of all workers in the job classification? For workers who rotate between different noise zones or perform variable tasks, individual dosimetry is more reliable than a sample from one worker in the group.
3. Calibration Requirements
Appendix G reinforces the calibration requirements from the main standard: acoustic calibration of dosimeters and SLMs before and after each use, with results documented. Instruments that are not calibrated before use produce data that cannot be relied upon for compliance determinations.
4. Documentation Standards
Monitoring records must include: the date of monitoring, the area or individual monitored, the instrument used (make, model, serial number), calibration records, the measurement results (dose percentage and TWA for dosimetry, dBA for SLM measurements), and the HCP enrollment determination based on the results. See: OSHA noise monitoring requirements: complete guide.
What Appendix G Does Not Cover
Appendix G is non-mandatory guidance, not an additional enforceable requirement. It does not modify the mandatory monitoring requirements in 1910.95(d). Employers who follow the mandatory standard requirements without specifically following Appendix G are not in violation. Appendix G's value is as an explanatory document that clarifies the intent of the mandatory monitoring provisions.
OSHA 1910.95 has both mandatory and non-mandatory appendices. Appendix D (incorporating ANSI S3.1 for test rooms) is mandatory — it has the force of law. Appendix G is non-mandatory — it provides guidance but does not create independent enforcement obligations. This distinction matters when reviewing compliance requirements vs. best practice guidance.
OSHA 1910.95 compliant audiometric testing — every appendix requirement met
Soundtrace delivers audiometric testing that meets ANSI S3.1 test environment requirements (Appendix D), uses ANSI S3.6 calibrated audiometers, and is supervised by a licensed audiologist — fully compliant with every 1910.95 appendix requirement.
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