While noise is considered to be a by-product of industrial activities, and the typical federal workforce is not involved with industrial processes, federal employees in certain types of jobs are in fact at risk for exposure to high levels of noise, which can result in incidents of noise-induced hearing loss.
OSHA recognizes noise or unwanted sound as one of the most pervasive occupational health problems facing the American worker. Therefore, OSHA has developed the Hearing Conservation Standard, 29 CFR 1910.95, designed to protect workers against the effects of noise exposure.
Federal work environments involved with activities that expose employees to noise must comply with requirements set forth in the OSHA Hearing Conservation Standard. The OSHA standard mandates noise monitoring and the development of a Hearing Conservation Program if occupational noise levels exceed specified limits.
Federal Occupational Health can assist these agencies in complying with the OSHA provisions of the standard by offering the following services: