For employees with a significant threshold shift, hearing protector attenuation must reduce exposure to a TWA of what level?

For employees with a significant threshold shift, hearing protector attenuation must reduce exposure to a TWA of what level?

• A. 85 dB
• B. 90 dB
• C. 95 dB
• D. 100 dB

Answer: (A)

When someone shows a significant threshold shift, the goal of the hearing protection program is to prevent any further damage by lowering the amount of noise they’re exposed to after protection. The target is to keep the worker’s time-weighted average exposure at 8 hours to 85 dB or less. This tighter limit recognizes their heightened vulnerability and ensures that the attenuation provided by earmuffs or earplugs, and the way they’re worn, brings the net noise level down to a safe range. In practice, if the ambient noise is around 90 dB, you’d need hearing protection that provides enough attenuation to bring the net exposure to 85 dB or lower, which may require higher-attenuation devices and proper fit. Exceeding this 85 dB target would not adequately protect someone with a noticeable shift in hearing, while a level below 85 dB is more protective than required but not the standard benchmark for this situation.

When someone shows a significant threshold shift, the goal of the hearing protection program is to prevent any further damage by lowering the amount of noise they’re exposed to after protection. The target is to keep the worker’s time-weighted average exposure at 8 hours to 85 dB or less. This tighter limit recognizes their heightened vulnerability and ensures that the attenuation provided by earmuffs or earplugs, and the way they’re worn, brings the net noise level down to a safe range. In practice, if the ambient noise is around 90 dB, you’d need hearing protection that provides enough attenuation to bring the net exposure to 85 dB or lower, which may require higher-attenuation devices and proper fit. Exceeding this 85 dB target would not adequately protect someone with a noticeable shift in hearing, while a level below 85 dB is more protective than required but not the standard benchmark for this situation.