Recommended workplace noise limits

The U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recommends noise level limits to prevent hearing loss in the workplace. This is based on hearing workday noise over 40 years. The recommended exposure limit is no more than 85 decibels (dB) for 8 hours a day.¹ Above this level, hearing loss may occur. As the noise level rises, the time you can be exposed to the noise decreases.

NIOSH recommendations ¹

Example	Noise level	Approximate maximum exposure
Heavy traffic, power lawn mower	85 dB	8 hours
Subway, shouted conversation	90 dB	2.5 hours
	92 dB	1.5 hours
	95 dB	47 minutes
Boom box, ATV, motorcycle	96 dB	37 minutes
	98 dB	23 minutes
	100 dB	15 minutes
School dance	101 dB	12 minutes
	105 dB	4 minutes
Chain saw, leaf blower, snowmobile	109 dB	1.5 minutes
	115 dB	28 seconds
Sports crowd, rock concert	120 dB	9 seconds
Stock car races	130 dB	Less than 1 second

People who may be regularly exposed to harmful noise because of their jobs include:

• Those who work with loud machines, vehicles, or power tools, such as construction workers, factory workers, farmers, truck drivers, mechanics, or airport ground crew workers.
• Military personnel.
• Police officers and firefighters.
• Musicians.

Citations

1. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) (1998). Recommendations for a noise standard. In Criteria for a Recommended Standard, Occupations Noise Exposure, Revised Criteria 1998 (DHHS [NIOSH] Publication No. 98-126). Available online: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/98-126/chap1.html.