Hearing Conservation
for Continuous Mills.
Paper machines, chippers, and pulp processing run around the clock. The highest injury rate in our analysis at 1.74% - your hearing conservation program needs to match the risk.
310
Companies tracked
92–110
dBA mill range
1.74%
Avg injury rate
2,253
Total HL cases
Independent 1910.95 Audit
Third-Party Reviewed
FDA Registered
Class II Medical Device
SOC 2 Type II
AICPA Certified
HIPAA Compliant
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Made in USA
Engineered & Built
The Reality on the Floor
Why Traditional Testing Fails in Paper & Pulp
Continuous operations, wet environments, and the highest per-worker injury rate make annual van visits dangerously inadequate.
Paper Machines and Pulping Operations Run Continuously
Paper machines, refiners, and chippers produce sustained noise above 95 dBA. Workers rotate through these areas across 12-hour shifts without consistent personal exposure tracking.
Wet, Humid Environments Degrade HPD Performance
Pulp processing areas are hot, humid, and wet. Foam earplugs absorb moisture and lose their seal. HPD selection must account for environmental conditions that standard devices can't handle.
Highest Injury Rate in This Analysis at 1.74%
Paper & pulp has the highest average hearing loss injury rate of the industries tracked. Despite having fewer companies than larger sectors, the per-worker risk is significantly elevated.
EPA + OSHA + State Environmental Overlap
Paper mills operate under EPA air and water permits, state environmental regulations, and OSHA safety standards. Gaps in worker health documentation compound regulatory exposure.
Built for Your Operations
How Soundtrace Fits Into Paper & Pulp Manufacturing
Test During Shift Rotations
6 min
per test
6-minute audiometric tests between 12-hour shift rotations. No production disruption, no van scheduling delays.
Track Exposure Across Mill Areas
Per
worker tracking
Personal dosimetry linked to each worker as they rotate between pulping, paper machines, finishing, and packaging.
Verify HPD in Wet/Hot Conditions
Real
NRR verification
Fit testing for moisture-resistant HPDs that maintain their seal in the humid conditions of pulp processing areas.
Centralized Mill Records
30+
year retention
Every audiogram, noise survey, and fit test stored in one platform with 30+ year retention. Multi-mill visibility from a single dashboard.
Know Your Exposure
Typical Noise Levels in Paper & Pulp Mills
Chippers and refiners routinely exceed 100 dBA. Even downstream finishing areas often surpass the action level.
Continuous high-speed operation
Wood processing impact noise
Steam and mechanical agitation
High-speed roll handling
Cutting, folding, packaging
Below action level
How Loud Is That?
60 dB
Normal conversation
85 dB
OSHA action level
110 dB
Rock concert
130 dB
Jet takeoff (300ft)
OSHA ITA Data
Hearing Loss Trends in Paper & Pulp Manufacturing (NAICS 322)
OSHA Injury Tracking Application (ITA) reported hearing loss cases across 310 paper & pulp companies, 2016\u20132024.
310
Companies
Across paper & pulp
2,253
Total HL Cases
2016–2024 combined
1.74%
Avg Injury Rate
Cases ÷ employees
Compliance Context
Multi-Regulatory Compliance in Paper & Pulp
Paper mills operate under overlapping regulatory frameworks that compound compliance requirements.
OSHA 29 CFR 1910.95
Full hearing conservation program for all mill workers. The 1.74% injury rate makes this the highest-risk industry for noise-induced hearing loss.
EPA Air & Water Permits
Paper mills operate under EPA environmental permits. Cross-regulatory audits increasingly review worker health documentation alongside environmental compliance.
Wet Environment HPD Challenges
Standard foam earplugs fail in pulp processing environments. HPD programs must specify moisture-resistant devices and verify fit in actual working conditions.
Go Deeper
Paper & Pulp Resources
Related Features
Testing between 12-hour shift rotations
Continuous dosimetry for paper machines and chippers
30-year retention across multiple mill locations
Verify moisture-resistant HPD attenuation
Real results from Soundtrace customers across industries
1.74% Injury Rate.
The Highest Risk Demands the Best Program.
See how Soundtrace fits into paper & pulp manufacturing - chippers to finishing, every mill, every worker.