According to OSHA 1910.95, what is the permissible exposure limit for noise for eight hours?

According to OSHA 1910.95, what is the permissible exposure limit for noise for eight hours?

• A. 90 dB for eight hours
• B. 95 dB for eight hours
• C. 85 dB for eight hours
• D. 100 dB for eight hours

Answer: (A)

OSHA 1910.95 sets the permissible exposure limit for workplace noise at 90 dBA as an eight-hour time-weighted average. This is the threshold you can be exposed to for a full 8-hour shift without exceeding the limit. The standard uses a 5 dB exchange rate, so each 5 dB increase above 90 dBA cuts the allowable exposure time roughly in half (for example, 95 dBA ≈ 4 hours, 100 dBA ≈ 2 hours, 105 dBA ≈ 1 hour). Exposures at higher levels for eight hours would exceed the PEL unless mitigated by controls or hearing protection. The value 85 dBA is the action level, not the PEL itself.

OSHA 1910.95 sets the permissible exposure limit for workplace noise at 90 dBA as an eight-hour time-weighted average. This is the threshold you can be exposed to for a full 8-hour shift without exceeding the limit. The standard uses a 5 dB exchange rate, so each 5 dB increase above 90 dBA cuts the allowable exposure time roughly in half (for example, 95 dBA ≈ 4 hours, 100 dBA ≈ 2 hours, 105 dBA ≈ 1 hour). Exposures at higher levels for eight hours would exceed the PEL unless mitigated by controls or hearing protection. The value 85 dBA is the action level, not the PEL itself.