Which standard defines the acceptable noise level for hearing conservation programs?

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is responsible for establishing and enforcing standards to ensure safe and healthful working conditions, including acceptable noise levels for hearing conservation programs. OSHA’s regulations specify permissible noise exposure limits and outline the requirements for implementing hearing conservation measures in workplaces where noise levels exceed these limits. This framework is essential for protecting workers from noise-induced hearing loss and is widely recognized as the benchmark for occupational noise exposure.

While other organizations like NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) and ANSI (American National Standards Institute) also provide guidelines and recommendations regarding noise levels, OSHA is the authority that enforces compliance in workplaces, making it the correct answer in this context. NIOSH provides recommendations based on research, while ANSI sets standards for acoustics and noise, but it is OSHA’s regulations that are legally enforceable in work environments. The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) focuses primarily on public health issues, including some aspects of noise and hearing health but does not set specific noise standards for occupational safety.