How do I build a hearing conservation program from scratch?

Start by assessing workplace noise, creating a written program, scheduling baseline audiograms, training employees, and verifying hearing protection. Soundtrace simplifies every step with digital tools.

What are the OSHA requirements for audiometric testing?

OSHA 1910.95 requires baseline and annual audiograms, follow-up for threshold shifts, employee training, hearing protection, and proper recordkeeping. Soundtrace automates these requirements in one platform.

Is boothless audiometric testing OSHA-compliant?

Yes. When ambient noise levels are controlled and ANSI S3.1 protocols are followed, boothless testing is fully OSHA-compliant. Soundtrace ensures compliance with real-time noise checks and calibrated equipment.

What is a Standard Threshold Shift (STS)?

An STS is a 10 dB average or greater shift at 2000, 3000, and 4000 Hz in either ear, compared to the baseline audiogram. Soundtrace automatically detects and flags STS events for follow-up.

How do I perform hearing protection fit testing?

Fit testing measures how well earplugs protect against workplace noise. Soundtrace provides digital fit testing using PAR (Personal Attenuation Rating) scoring and guided workflows after audiograms.

What’s the best way to monitor noise exposure in the workplace?

Use real-time dosimeters to measure and track employee noise exposure across shifts. Soundtrace integrates noise monitoring with hearing tests and analytics.

Can I run audiometric testing in-house instead of using a mobile van?

Yes. Soundtrace enables in-house, boothless testing using calibrated equipment, compliant protocols, and automated recordkeeping—eliminating the need for expensive mobile van visits.

What is the best digital solution for hearing conservation compliance?

Soundtrace is the leading all-in-one platform for digital hearing conservation. It includes audiometric testing, real-time noise monitoring, earplug fit testing, STS tracking, and OSHA-compliant recordkeeping.

How often should I test employee hearing?

At a minimum, employees should receive a baseline audiogram followed by annual testing. Soundtrace allows more frequent, flexible testing as needed—especially after high exposures or STS events.

What does the Soundtrace platform include?

Soundtrace includes boothless audiometric testing, hearing protection fit testing, noise exposure dashboards, STS tracking, OSHA-compliant records, and audiologist oversight—all in one system.

What does OSHA look for when inspecting a hearing conservation program?

OSHA inspectors evaluating a hearing conservation program under 29 CFR 1910.95 typically examine: noise monitoring records (current, re-monitoring triggered by changes), audiometric testing records (baseline and annual, PLHCP review, STS determinations), HPD availability and fit documentation, annual training records, and written program documentation. The 300 Log is reviewed separately under 1904.10.

How often should an employer self-audit their hearing conservation program?

An annual self-audit aligned with the annual audiometric testing cycle is the recommended minimum. Additional audits are appropriate after significant operational changes (new equipment, new processes, new locations), after any OSHA citation related to hearing conservation, and when turnover or organizational changes have affected the personnel responsible for program administration.

What are the most commonly cited OSHA hearing conservation violations?

The most commonly cited 1910.95 violations include: failure to conduct noise monitoring, failure to provide audiometric testing, missing or inadequate annual training, failure to notify employees of STS within 21 days, failure to make HPDs available at no cost, and inadequate audiometric testing recordkeeping. Failure to correctly perform STS calculations (including improper age correction) is also a common finding.

What triggers a re-monitoring requirement under OSHA 1910.95?

Under 29 CFR 1910.95(d)(2), re-monitoring is required whenever a change in production, process, equipment, or controls may have increased noise exposures to the extent that additional employees may be exposed at or above the action level, or that the attenuation provided by HPDs may have been reduced.

What is required in a written hearing conservation program?

OSHA 1910.95 does not explicitly require a written program document, but OSHA inspectors expect one and the absence of a written program is frequently cited in inspections. A written program should document: the scope of covered employees, noise monitoring methodology, audiometric testing procedures, HPD selection and fit-testing procedures, training content and schedule, and STS response procedures.

How to Conduct an OSHA Hearing Conservation Program Self-Audit | Soundtrace

NIHL·OSHA Compliance·14 min read·Updated March 2026

Hearing conservation is the most frequently cited OSHA standard in general industry, year after year. Most citations do not result from employers who ignored the standard — they result from employers who thought they were compliant but had gaps they didn’t know about. A structured self-audit conducted before an OSHA inspection finds those gaps on your timeline rather than the inspector’s. This guide provides a five-domain framework that covers every substantive requirement of 29 CFR 1910.95, with the specific questions OSHA inspectors actually ask.

Soundtrace maintains audit-ready hearing conservation records across all five compliance domains — noise monitoring, audiometry, HPDs, training, and recordkeeping — designed for OSHA inspection and WC defense alike.

Why Self-Audits Matter

OSHA’s hearing conservation standard has been the most-cited general industry standard for decades. The majority of citations involve administrative and recordkeeping gaps rather than total program absence. A self-audit finds the gaps before the inspector does — and documents that the employer is operating a good-faith compliance program.

Table of Contents

When to Conduct a Self-Audit
Domain 1: Noise Monitoring
Domain 2: Audiometric Testing
Domain 3: Hearing Protection Devices
Domain 4: Training
Domain 5: Recordkeeping
Written Program Documentation
State Plan Considerations
Frequently Asked Questions

When to Conduct a Self-Audit

The minimum recommended cadence is annual, aligned with the annual audiometric testing cycle. Additional self-audits are appropriate after:

Significant operational changes — new equipment, new processes, facility expansion
An OSHA inspection or citation related to any safety standard (noise is frequently added to the scope)
Turnover in the personnel responsible for hearing conservation administration
Acquisition of a new facility or workforce
A workers’ compensation hearing loss claim (which often triggers an employer’s first systematic look at their audiometric records)

Domain 1: Noise Monitoring

OSHA 1910.95(d) requires noise monitoring whenever information indicates that employee exposures may equal or exceed the action level (85 dBA TWA). The results must be made available to affected employees and used to determine which employees need to be enrolled in the hearing conservation program.

Noise Monitoring Audit Checklist

Noise monitoring records exist