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OSHA Annual Requirement

Hearing Protection Safety

5(4 reviews)
Hearing Protection Safety

Course Overview

Hearing protection training built to OSHA 29 CFR 1910.95 for crews working at or above 85 decibels. In 30 minutes online, workers cover the subjects the annual training rule asks for, from how noise damages hearing to fitting a protector.

  • Covers the 85 dBA action level, the 90 dBA exposure limit and the OSHA exposure table behind them both.
  • Explains how loud noise destroys the hair cells in the inner ear, and why that damage never comes back.
  • Walks through earplugs, earmuffs and canal caps, what NRR derating means, and how to fit each of them.
  • 30 minutes, self-paced
  • Instant certificate
  • Mobile friendly
$25.00

Per seat. One-time payment, no subscription.

Total (1 seats x $25.00)
$25.00
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Course Clips

Everything You Need to Know
About This Course

Hearing Protection Safety runs in four parts, and each part ends with a short quiz. Part 1 covers sound and the ear, Part 2 exposure limits, Part 3 the hearing conservation program and the protectors, and Part 4 training and records.

  • How sound works and the anatomy of the outer, middle and inner ear.
  • How loud noise damages hair cells in the cochlea and why they rarely grow back.
  • Noise-induced hearing loss, tinnitus and the symptoms workers notice first.
  • The decibel scale, frequency and how distance and duration change exposure.
  • The 85 dBA action level and the 90 dBA permissible exposure limit.
  • OSHA's permissible noise exposure table and how allowed time drops as noise rises.
  • Continuous, intermittent and impulse noise, including the 140 dB peak limit.
  • The six parts of a hearing conservation program.
  • Noise monitoring with sound level meters, dosimeters and octave band analyzers.
  • Audiometric testing, baseline audiograms and standard threshold shifts.
  • Earplugs, earmuffs and canal caps, with the advantages and limits of each.
  • Noise Reduction Ratings, derating and what dual protection actually adds.
  • Fitting, inserting, cleaning and replacing hearing protectors.
  • Records the employer keeps for monitoring, testing and training.

OSHA Standard29 CFR 1910.95
Course Duration30 minutes
Format100% online, fully narrated with photos and interactivity
Passing Score70% on final exam
CertificatePersonalized certificate, printable immediately upon passing
LanguagesEnglish
Device CompatibilityDesktop, tablet, and smartphone
ProgressProgress saved automatically, stop and restart without losing your place
Instructor SupportAccess professional instructors for guidance and answers to your course-related questions.
AcceptedOur courses meet federal standards, but state requirements may vary. Please verify before purchase.

Hearing Protection Safety is for anyone whose work area is loud enough to be in a hearing conservation program, and for the safety officers who run it.

  • Construction workers around heavy equipment, jackhammers and power tools.
  • Manufacturing and production staff on high-noise lines.
  • Airport ground crew and aviation maintenance technicians.
  • Mining and quarrying workers.
  • Oil and gas drilling and refinery crews.
  • Woodworkers and carpenters running saws and routers.
  • Metal fabricators, stamping press and punch press operators.
  • Concert, venue and live event crews.
  • Anyone exposed at or above an 8-hour average of 85 decibels.
  • Safety officers who run the hearing conservation program and keep its records.

These are the operations where an 8-hour shift routinely sits at or above the action level, so the training repeats every year.

  • Construction and heavy civil work
  • Manufacturing and industrial production
  • Mining and mineral processing
  • Oil and gas drilling and refining
  • Airport operations and aviation maintenance
  • Woodworking and lumber mills
  • Metal fabrication and stamping
  • Power generation and utility plants
  • Entertainment and live event production
  • Military and defense operations

Hearing Protection Training or the Full PPE Course?

Noise is the one PPE hazard with a yearly training rule of its own, so crews in a hearing conservation program need this course on its own schedule. Crews wearing several kinds of gear can take the combined course as their baseline.

  • Hearing Protection Safety. The page you are on. Thirty minutes on noise alone: how hearing is damaged, the 85 and 90 dBA thresholds, monitoring, audiometric testing, protectors and NRR. Buy it every year for everyone in the hearing conservation program.
  • Personal Protective Equipment Safety. Covers head, eye, foot, hearing, hand, body and respiratory protection in one to two hours. Pick it when a crew wears several kinds of gear and needs one baseline. View the Personal Protective Equipment Safety
  • Personal Protective Equipment for the Competent Person. Written for the person who runs the hazard assessment and chooses the protection, not the person wearing it. It covers seven protection areas and the written certification under 29 CFR 1910.132(d). View the Personal Protective Equipment for the Competent Person

Crews inside a hearing conservation program come back to this course on the yearly cycle 29 CFR 1910.95(k)(2) sets. The combined course is the better fit where noise is one hazard among many.

 

What 1910.95(k) Requires Hearing Training to Cover

29 CFR 1910.95(k)(3) lists the subjects an employer's annual hearing training has to include. Hearing Protection Safety covers each one, so you can hold the course against the paragraph before you buy.

  • The effects of noise on hearing. The course covers how sound reaches the cochlea, how hair cells are damaged, and what noise-induced hearing loss and tinnitus feel like.
  • The purpose of hearing protectors. The course covers why protectors are the last control after engineering and administrative measures, and the advantages, disadvantages and attenuation of earplugs, earmuffs and canal caps.
  • Selection, fitting, use and care. The course covers choosing by NRR, rolling and inserting a foam earplug, sealing an earmuff, and cleaning and replacing both.
  • The purpose of audiometric testing. The course covers baseline audiograms, standard threshold shifts and what happens after one is found.

Because 29 CFR 1910.95(k)(2) makes this training annual, the same check is worth running each year you buy it.

Verified Course Reviews

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5.0
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1-4 of 4 reviews
  1. Lawrence Winowiecki
    Hearing Protection SafetyHearing Protection Safety

    well done

    (0) (0)
  2. Brett Culpepper
    Hearing Protection SafetyHearing Protection Safety

    Great training! AAA+

    (0) (0)
  3. TW Tison
    Hearing Protection SafetyHearing Protection Safety

    Easy to follow course, I learned some ne information.

    (0) (0)
  4. Rodney Etheridge
    Hearing Protection SafetyHearing Protection Safety

    Perfect training tools AAAAA+

    (0) (0)

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about the Hearing Protection Safety.

Yes. Upon passing the final exam with a score of 70% or higher, you can immediately print a certificate of completion. This certificate serves as proof of training for your employer.

Yes. The course is accessible on desktop computers, laptops, tablets, and smartphones. Progress saves automatically on the same device, so you can stop and resume where you left off.

There is no federally mandated expiration date for this training certificate. However, health and safety plans should be reviewed and updated annually, and whenever workplace conditions, hazards, or regulations change. Refresher training is recommended to stay current with evolving OSHA standards and best practices for safety program management.

Hearing protection safety training is a safety education program that teaches workers how to understand the effects of noise on hearing, recognize hazardous noise levels, and select and use hearing protection devices properly. eTraining’s course provides approximately 30 minutes of instruction covering OSHA 29 CFR 1910.95 standards, including how noise damages hearing, the decibel scale, permissible exposure limits, hearing protection types (earplugs, earmuffs, canal caps), Noise Reduction Ratings, proper fitting and use, and the hearing conservation program. Upon completion, participants receive a printable certificate of completion.

  OSHA 29 CFR 1910.95(k) requires employers to provide training to each employee who is exposed to noise at or above an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) of 85 decibels (dBA). Training must cover the effects of noise on hearing, the purpose and types of hearing protectors, the advantages, disadvantages, and attenuation of various types, instructions on selection, fitting, use, and care, and the purpose of audiometric testing. This training must be repeated annually.

  The course takes approximately 30 minutes to complete. Because it is self-paced, you can complete it in a single session at your convenience. Most students finish in one sitting. You have 6 months from your enrollment date to complete all coursework. Progress is saved automatically on the same device, so you can stop and resume at any time.

 OSHA sets two key noise thresholds. The Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) is 90 dBA as an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA). Employers must use engineering controls, administrative controls, or hearing protection to reduce exposure below this level. The Action Level is 85 dBA TWA, which triggers the requirement for a hearing conservation program including noise monitoring, audiometric testing, hearing protector availability, and annual training. As noise levels increase, the allowable exposure time decreases.

  The course covers: how noise damages hearing and the anatomy of the ear; the decibel scale and common noise levels; OSHA 29 CFR 1910.95 permissible exposure limits and action levels; types of hearing protection devices (disposable and reusable earplugs, earmuffs, canal caps); Noise Reduction Ratings (NRR) and how to evaluate hearing protector attenuation; proper selection, fitting, insertion, and wearing of hearing protectors; care, cleaning, and replacement of hearing protection; and the elements of a hearing conservation program including audiometric testing.

Yes. eTraining’s Hearing Protection Safety course covers OSHA 29 CFR 1910.95 standards for occupational noise exposure and is accepted nationwide. You receive a printable certificate of completion that documents your training. Employers across all 50 U.S. states accept this training as part of their hearing conservation compliance programs.

 The Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) is a number assigned to hearing protection devices by the manufacturer that indicates the device’s ability to reduce noise exposure in decibels. For example, an earplug with an NRR of 29 theoretically reduces noise by 29 decibels under laboratory conditions. In practice, OSHA recommends derating the NRR. The standard OSHA derating method subtracts 7 from the NRR and divides by 2. So an NRR of 29 provides an estimated real-world protection of approximately 11 dB: (29 minus 7) divided by 2 equals 11 dB of actual noise reduction.

You must score at least 70% on the final exam to pass and receive your certificate of completion. The course includes knowledge-check quizzes that do not count toward your final grade but help prepare you for the exam. If you do not pass on your first attempt, you can retake the exam.

Better Training. Better Outcomes.

Fifteen years, 200,000+ professionals certified, and a completion rate roughly double the industry average.

OSHA citation printed on every certificate

Your employer and site safety officer can verify compliance at a glance, with no phone calls and no lookups.

No setup. No LMS. Training in minutes.

Pay once, get instant access. No account setup, no downloads, no IT involvement. Works in any browser.

Built for field workers, not classrooms

Grounded in real jobsite operations. Scenarios reflect the work your crew actually does.

Trusted by safety managers & contractors

Used by EHS managers, general contractors and federal site supervisors to keep crews certified on time.

200,000+
Professionals certified
87%
Completion rate (industry avg <45%)
10M+
Hours of training delivered
15
Years in business

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