1910.95(d): Noise Monitoring
When information shows any employee's exposure may equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels, the employer must develop and carry out a noise monitoring program. Sampling must identify who joins the hearing conservation program and help choose hearing protectors, sound from 80 to 130 decibels must be included, instruments must be calibrated, and monitoring must be repeated when changes raise exposures.
Key takeaways
- 1910.95(d) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart G).
- OSHA cited it 304 times in the last 3 years, in 303 inspections, with $570,871 in current penalties.
- Most citations: CT (41), TN (33), PA (26).
- Related part: 1910.95(d)(1) (293 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.95(d) ("Monitoring") is one requirement inside 1910.95 Occupational noise exposure, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart G). It includes 9 sub-paragraphs. The official text below is copied word for word from the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR). The numbers, injury cases and training on this page show how OSHA enforces it on real job sites.
Official text
(d) Monitoring. 304 citations
(1) When information indicates that any employee's exposure may equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels, the employer shall develop and implement a monitoring program. Open (d)(1) 293 citations
(i) The sampling strategy shall be designed to identify employees for inclusion in the hearing conservation program and to enable the proper selection of hearing protectors. Open (d)(1)(i) 1 citations
(ii) Where circumstances such as high worker mobility, significant variations in sound level, or a significant component of impulse noise make area monitoring generally inappropriate, the employer shall use representative personal sampling to comply with the monitoring requirements of this paragraph unless the employer can show that area sampling produces equivalent results. Open (d)(1)(ii) 1 citations
(2) Open (d)(2)
(i) All continuous, intermittent and impulsive sound levels from 80 decibels to 130 decibels shall be integrated into the noise measurements. Open (d)(2)(i)
(ii) Instruments used to measure employee noise exposure shall be calibrated to ensure measurement accuracy.
(3) Monitoring shall be repeated whenever a change in production, process, equipment or controls increases noise exposures to the extent that: Open (d)(3) 11 citations
(i) Additional employees may be exposed at or above the action level; or 4 citations
(ii) The attenuation provided by hearing protectors being used by employees may be rendered inadequate to meet the requirements of paragraph (j) of this section.
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.95.
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 22 |
| 2024 | 121 |
| 2025 | 88 |
| 2026 | 73 |
Top states: CT (41), TN (33), PA (26), NY (18), OH (17)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| DYNAMIC TOOL CO., INC. | EL PASO, TX | $87,500 |
| CIRCA RESORT & CASINO | LAS VEGAS, NV | $23,438 |
| MODWASH LLC | SICKLERVILLE, NJ | $16,550 |
| TRDI MAINTENANCE, INC. | CORPUS CHRISTI, TX | $16,131 |
| HBD/THERMOID, INC. | BELLEFONTAINE, OH | $12,676 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.95(d), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
- 140 decibels (dB) impact/impulse policy under the noise standard (2025-07-30)
- Acceptability of Task-Based Noise Exposure Assessment Modeling (T-BEAM). (2001-02-01)
- Citation guidelines in relation to monitoring programs. (1983-08-15)
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.95(d)(1) 293 citations
- 1910.95(d)(3) 11 citations
- 1910.95(d)(1)(ii) 1 citations
- 1910.95(d)(1)(i) 1 citations
- 1910.95(d)(2)(i)
- 1910.95(d)(2)
Get your crew competent
Trainers on Black Belt Safety: Marc Harvey, Dana Reyes
Trainers and suppliers: feature your business on this rule for $25/month.
Frequently asked questions
When is noise monitoring required?
When information indicates any employee's exposure may equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels.
Which sound levels count?
All continuous, intermittent and impulsive sound levels from 80 decibels to 130 decibels.
When must monitoring be repeated?
Whenever a change in production, process, equipment or controls increases noise so more employees may be at or above the action level, or hearing protectors may no longer be adequate.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.95 (eCFR), text current as of 2026-10-15
- U.S. Department of Labor enforcement data: OSHA inspections, citations and accident records, copied nightly; data as of 2026-10-20
3-year window. Federal OSHA only; state-plan rules are not counted. Plain-language text is a summary, not legal advice; the official text controls. Black Belt Safety is not part of OSHA or the Department of Labor.