1910.95(g)(1): Audiometric Testing Program
Employers must establish and maintain an audiometric testing program by making hearing tests available to all employees whose exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels.
Key takeaways
- 1910.95(g)(1) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart G).
- OSHA cited it 227 times in the last 3 years, in 227 inspections, with $417,072 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: TN (32), PA (25), OH (18).
- Related part: 1910.95(g) Audiometric testing program (437 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.95(g)(1) is one requirement inside 1910.95 Occupational noise exposure, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart G). 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
(1) The employer shall establish and maintain an audiometric testing program as provided in this paragraph by making audiometric testing available to all employees whose exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels. 227 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.95.
Injuries linked to this rule
1 death is linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.95(g)(1).
At 12:30 p.m. on November 21, 2023, an employee was using a forklift to load pallets onto a box truck. The employee attempted to back from the box truck to the dock, but the truck had rolled away, and the forklift fell to the ground.…
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 21 |
| 2024 | 92 |
| 2025 | 72 |
| 2026 | 42 |
Top states: TN (32), PA (25), OH (18), TX (13), AL (13)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| RECYCLING REVOLUTION, LLC | UNADILLA, GA | $49,657 |
| JOHN'S DISPOSAL SERVICES, INC. / JOHN'S RECYCLING, INC. | FRANKSVILLE, WI | $32,000 |
| CIRCA RESORT & CASINO | LAS VEGAS, NV | $23,438 |
| RECYCLING REVOLUTION, LLC | UNADILLA, GA | $9,678 |
| MAJOR METALS COMPANY | MANSFIELD, OH | $9,582 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.95(g)(1), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
- Audiometric testing of a worker who may have a cochlear implant (2025-06-11)
- Baseline audiogram revision due to persistent STS or improved thresholds; revision must be made for each ear separately. (2003-05-08)
- No time limit from date of annual audiogram to standard threshold shift determination. (1983-04-06)
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.95(g) Audiometric testing program 437 citations
- 1910.95(g)(6) Annual audiogram 99 citations
- 1910.95(g)(5) Baseline audiogram 80 citations
- 1910.95(g)(5)(i) 72 citations
- 1910.95(g)(8) Follow-up procedures 25 citations
- 1910.95(g)(8)(ii) 15 citations
- 1910.95(g)(8)(i) 10 citations
- 1910.95(g)(7) Evaluation of audiogram 5 citations
- 1910.95(g)(7)(ii) 2 citations
- 1910.95(g)(3) 1 citations
- 1910.95(g)(7)(iii) 1 citations
- 1910.95(g)(5)(iii)
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
Who must be offered hearing tests?
All employees whose exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels.
Is a one-time test enough?
The employer must establish and maintain the audiometric testing program.
What is an audiometric test?
A hearing test made available under the employer's audiometric testing program.
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.