1910.95(g)(5)(i): Baseline Audiogram Within 6 Months
Within 6 months of an employee's first exposure at or above the action level, the employer must establish a valid baseline audiogram against which later audiograms can be compared.
Key takeaways
- 1910.95(g)(5)(i) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart G).
- OSHA cited it 72 times in the last 3 years, in 72 inspections, with $180,271 in current penalties.
- Most citations: NJ (11), CT (7), TN (6).
- 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)(5)(i) 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
(i) Within 6 months of an employee's first exposure at or above the action level, the employer shall establish a valid baseline audiogram against which subsequent audiograms can be compared. 72 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.95.
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2024 | 38 |
| 2025 | 20 |
| 2026 | 10 |
Top states: NJ (11), CT (7), TN (6), PA (6), OR (5)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| PLASTIC USA, LLC. | IRVINGTON, NJ | $20,000 |
| MODWASH LLC | SICKLERVILLE, NJ | $16,550 |
| EAST BAKING CO | SYRACUSE, NY | $14,188 |
| JINDAL TUBULAR USA LLC | BAY SAINT LOUIS, MS | $12,676 |
| AUNT KITTY'S FOODS INC. | VINELAND, NJ | $10,500 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.95(g)(5)(i), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
- Administering the baseline audiogram either before or after an employee's first exposure. (2007-03-07)
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.95(g) Audiometric testing program 437 citations
- 1910.95(g)(1) 227 citations
- 1910.95(g)(6) Annual audiogram 99 citations
- 1910.95(g)(5) Baseline audiogram 80 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
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Frequently asked questions
When is a baseline audiogram due?
Within 6 months of an employee's first exposure at or above the action level.
What is it used for?
Subsequent audiograms are compared against it.
Who must set it up?
The employer.
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.