• Noise monitoring
• Audiometric testing
• Personal hearing protection
• Training programs
• Record keeping

Noise Monitoring
Before providing testing programs, first determine the noise levels in your work environment. The "action level" of the standard is 85 dBA, which means that any employee exposed to an 8-hour time weighted at or above this level is required to be part of the hearing-conservation program, and hearing protection must be available.

Annual Hearing Test
Although a hearing conservation program is much more than hearing tests, this annual checkup is the cornerstone of any program. It provides the means by which the success of the entire process is measured. Baseline and annual tests must be administered to all employees exposed at action level.

Personal Hearing Protection
If the annual hearing test is the cornerstone of the program, personal hearing protection is the cement. Hearing protection devices (HPD) must be made available to all employees who are exposed to the action level of noise exposure. The employer is responsible for supervising the appropriate use of the various ear protection devices.

Training Programs
Educating employees on the causes of hearing loss, the effects of noise on hearing, and the importance of using HPDs and test procedures, is part of the federal noise regulation's requirement for training programs. Training programs must include all of the employees in your hearing conservation program and must be repeated and updated annually.

Record Keeping
OSHA requires that an accurate record of all employee noise exposure measurements be maintained by the employer and retained for a period of two years.