What Is Too Loud?
Ear protection is recommended for noise levels of 85 decibels or above. For every 3 dB above 85 dB, NIOSH recommends cutting the permissible exposure time in half.
How Loud is Your Work?
The NIOSH Sound Level Meter (SLM) app combines the best features of professional sound levels meters and noise dosimeters into a simple, easy-to-use package. The app was developed to help workers make informed decisions about their noise environment and promote better hearing health and prevention efforts.
The hidden toll of occupational noise exposure
Protect your hearing & your health
Too much noise can damage your hearing, but its effects may not stop at your ears. Select a health area to explore how hazardous workplace noise can affect the body.
Explore the body map
Select a health area
Choose one of the numbered points around the worker to learn about eight potential effects of occupational noise exposure.
Hearing
Noise-Induced Hearing Loss
Reduced hearing makes it difficult to hear conversations and important sounds, and to stay connected with your surroundings. Noise-induced hearing loss is permanent, but completely preventable.
Ears
Tinnitus
Ringing or buzzing in the ears, known as tinnitus, may be a sign of damage—similar to how sunburn is a warning sign of skin damage. Tinnitus can become a permanent condition.
Brain
Mental Health
Anxiety, annoyance, stress and depression are linked with working in high noise.
Whole-Body Health
Sleep Quality
Occupational noise exposure interferes with sleep patterns, which can increase the risk of heart disease, diabetes and obesity.
Connection
Social Isolation
People may stop joining social activities because they have trouble hearing people speaking.
Heart
Cardiovascular Disease
Working in noise is associated with higher risk of high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, heart attacks and strokes.
Reproductive System
Reproductive Health
If you are pregnant, or thinking of becoming pregnant, talk to your doctor about the risk of high noise exposure.
Whole Body
Accidents & Injuries
Workplace noise is associated with an increased risk of accidents and injuries. Noise can interfere with communication and contribute to distraction, stress or fatigue.
View sources and attribution
- Themann CL, Masterson EA. Occupational noise exposure: A review of its effects, epidemiology, and impact with recommendations for reducing its burden. J Acoust Soc Am. 2019;146:3879-3905.
- Themann C, Suter AH, Stephenson MR. National Research Agenda for the Prevention of Occupational Hearing Loss—Part 1. Semin Hear. 2013;34(3):145-207.
- Rabinowitz PM, Davies HW, Meinke DK. Auditory and Non-Auditory Health Effects of Noise. In: AIHA Noise Manual, 6th ed. 2022.
- Kerns E, Masterson EA, Themann CL, Calvert GM. Cardiovascular conditions, hearing difficulty, and occupational noise exposure within U.S. industries and occupations. Am J Ind Med. 2018;61(6):477-491.
- Livingston G, et al. Dementia prevention, intervention, and care: 2024 report of the Lancet standing Commission. The Lancet. 2024;404(10452):572-628.
- Yoon JH, Roh J, Kim CN, Won JU. The risk of occupational injury increased according to severity of noise exposure after controlling for occupational environment status in Korea. Noise Health. 2016;18(85):355-361.
- Girard SA, Leroux T, Verreault R, et al. Falls risk and hospitalization among retired workers with occupational noise-induced hearing loss. Can J Aging. 2014;33(1):84-91.
- Yazdanirad S, Khoshakhlagh AH, Al Sulaie S, Drake CL, Wickwire EM. The effects of occupational noise on sleep: A systematic review. Sleep Med Rev. 2023;72.
Developed through OSHA's Alliances with ASSP, CAOHC and ISEA for informational purposes only. It does not necessarily reflect the official views of OSHA or the U.S. Department of Labor. July 2025.
Federal Standards and Regulation
OSHA (29 CFR 1910.95) mandates employers “make hearing protectors available to all employees exposed to an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels or greater at no cost to the employees. Hearing protectors shall be replaced as necessary.”
Hearing Protection Standards
ISEA is represented on the following standards committees and panels:
- ANSI A10 – Safety Requirements for Construction and Demolition Operations
- ANSI S12 – Hearing Protection
- ANSI Z49 – Safety in Welding and Cutting
- ANSI Z10 – Occupational Health and Safety Systems
- CSA Z94.2 – Technical Committee on Hearing Protection (liaison)
- US TAG to ISO TC43 – Acoustics, SC1 Noise
