Why Noise Exposure Testing Matters
Excessive noise isn’t just uncomfortable, it’s a regulated workplace hazard. Under OSHA 29 CFR 1910.95, employers are required to monitor worker exposure and implement controls when "action levels" of noise exposure are exceeded.
According to OSHA, any workplace where employees are exposed to an average of 85 decibels (dBA) or higher over an 8-hour shift must implement a hearing conservation program.
Whether you’re responding to employee concerns, preparing for an audit, or proactively evaluating risk, noise exposure testing is the first step to protecting your team and your bottom line.
According to OSHA, any workplace where employees are exposed to an average of 85 decibels (dBA) or higher over an 8-hour shift must implement a hearing conservation program.
Whether you’re responding to employee concerns, preparing for an audit, or proactively evaluating risk, noise exposure testing is the first step to protecting your team and your bottom line.
Unmanaged occupational noise can lead to:
- Increased workers’ compensation claims
Permanent hearing loss, tinnitus, fatigue, and stress. - Miscommunication
Increased accident risk due to high background noise levels which impede warning alarms, muddle verbal instructions and reduce worker concentration. - Decreased employee productivity
Loud environments reduce focus, comfort, and job satisfaction. - Regulatory citations or fines
Noncompliance opens the door to fines, citations, and injury litigation.
Noise exposure studies provide you with the data you need to identify high-risk areas and prioritize corrective actions before problems escalate.
What We Test.
How We Do It.
Our noise testing process is grounded in engineering discipline and regulatory best practices. Every project is conducted by our acoustic engineers and certified specialists using NIST-traceable, calibrated equipment.
Personal Exposure Levels (Dosimetry)
Employees wear small, data-logging devices to collect sound exposure data during a work shift to calculate time-weighted averages (TWA), peak levels, and allowable noise dose statistics.
Area and Task-Based Noise Mapping
Fixed-point measurements and sound level data is acquired at key process locations or job stations to pinpoint dominant sources, problem areas and exposure patterns.
Octave Band Analysis
Frequency-based data is used to identify the content of noise, and is critical for selecting the most effective noise mitigation products (e.g., enclosures, surface treatments, or diffusers).
Equipment-Specific Diagnostics
Targeted testing around specific machines or systems to evaluate the noise-exposure impact of problematic assets.
Compliance Documentation
Complete OSHA/NIOSH-compliant reporting, including threshold exceedance mapping, recommendations, and documentation suitable for internal audits or agency review.
How Every Project Runs
From Requirement to Verified Result
Memtech Acoustics runs every engineering project on the same model. The left side defines the result: what the problem is, what the space or equipment must measure once it is fixed, and how the design gets there. The right side proves it. Each check on the way up is measured against a decision made on the way down.
Noise exposure testing sets the requirement: who is over which limit, and the sources behind it.
1. Discovery: the problem and who it affects.
2. Requirements: a measured baseline and the target criteria.
3. Engineering design: treatment selection and specifications.
4. Implementation: supply from manufacturer partners, installation by subcontractors.
5. Inspection and test: installed work checked against the design.
6. Measured validation: same positions and methods, measured against the target.
7. Ongoing performance: retesting and training as operations change.
Some engagements cover one part of the model, such as a test or a design review. The model shows where that part fits, and what comes before and after it.
- Checked against the design: inspection and testing confirm the installed work matches the specified assemblies and details.
- Measured against the target: validation repeats the baseline measurement at the same positions with the same methods, and compares the result with the requirement.
- Confirmed in daily use: retesting and training keep the result in place as operations change.
Our Process
STEP 1
Discovery & Qualification
We start with a collaborative factfinding process to understand your site conditions, challenges, and goals.
We also assess risk, establish requirements, and align on priorities.
We also assess risk, establish requirements, and align on priorities.
Here are the types of questions we typically ask:
Which job roles, machines, or production lines are active during a normal work shift?
Are there any known transient or random noise sources (e.g., alarms, forklifts, relief valves) that may influence exposure levels?
What production zones or process areas are of most concern for ambient noise?
Are there any upcoming operational changes (e.g., new equipment, shift expansions) that may affect the acoustic environment in the near term?
How will the results be used (i.e. internal risk assessment, OSHA compliance validation, community engagement, litigation, etc.)?
STEP 2
On-Site Testing
After our initial assessment, we then proceed with a guided walkthrough of your facility to identify key noise sources, workflow patterns, and employee exposure risks.
Our team maps out critical equipment zones, identifies job roles with high exposure potential, and observes how production shifts influence the acoustic environment.
Using certified Class 1 sound level meters and OSHA-compliant noise dosimeters, we conduct on-site testing during active operations.
Employees are introduced to the data acquisition process, and then outfitted with the dosimeters to capture comprehensive noise exposure statistics throughout the work shift. The dosimeters do not interfere with normal work routines.
For in-depth analysis in high-risk areas, we perform octave-band and temporal noise testing to determine root-causes of problematic noise.
Our team maps out critical equipment zones, identifies job roles with high exposure potential, and observes how production shifts influence the acoustic environment.
Using certified Class 1 sound level meters and OSHA-compliant noise dosimeters, we conduct on-site testing during active operations.
Employees are introduced to the data acquisition process, and then outfitted with the dosimeters to capture comprehensive noise exposure statistics throughout the work shift. The dosimeters do not interfere with normal work routines.
For in-depth analysis in high-risk areas, we perform octave-band and temporal noise testing to determine root-causes of problematic noise.
STEP 3
Analysis & Reporting
After testing is complete, we review and process all collected data, comparing results against OSHA permissible exposure limits (PEL), action levels, and hearing conservation thresholds.
Our team evaluates individual exposure profiles and area-based noise levels to identify compliance risks, locate high-noise "hotspots," and determine potential noise mitigation measures.
We then deliver a comprehensive report summarizing all findings.
Our team evaluates individual exposure profiles and area-based noise levels to identify compliance risks, locate high-noise "hotspots," and determine potential noise mitigation measures.
We then deliver a comprehensive report summarizing all findings.
STEP 4
Actionable Guidance
Our reports fully comply with OSHA and NIOSH documentation requirements,as well as with any local or union-related mandates
Each report includes:
- Raw data and statistical summary breakdowns
- Sound pressure level mapping, along with frequency information (where necessary)
- Written summaries and compliance observations
- Recommended next steps
STEP 5
Ongoing Monitoring (Optional)
For clients seeking long-term risk management or who are operating in constantly changing work environments, we offer long-term noise monitoring and periodic reassessments.
Whether it’s due to seasonal production changes, new equipment, or evolving compliance requirements, continuous acoustic oversight helps ensure your workplace stays within regulatory thresholds.
Whether it’s due to seasonal production changes, new equipment, or evolving compliance requirements, continuous acoustic oversight helps ensure your workplace stays within regulatory thresholds.
We provide:
- Recurring noise exposure testing (quarterly, semi-annual, or annual)
- Noise logger deployment for long-term tracking of ambient noise trends
- Trend reporting and comparative analysis over varying time periods or operational states
- Regulatory reviews aligned with OSHA recordkeeping and hearing conservation programs
Featured Case Study
Packaging Room Exposure Study
A manufacturer needed defensible numbers for its packaging room against OSHA noise limits. Memtech Acoustics ran full-shift personal dosimetry, an area noise survey and octave-band analysis, then used the frequency data to identify the sources behind the exposure.
Highlights
- Every participating employee below the OSHA permissible exposure limit
- 7 of 10 participating employees over the action level, so a hearing conservation program applies
- Tonal sources found by frequency: vacuum pumps at 63 and 125 Hz, plus conveyor operation
- Engineering controls scoped at the source, rather than defaulting to hearing protection
What You Receive
Memtech Acoustics delivers a written engineering report and a follow-up meeting to review it. Two scopes are available. Data acquisition only suits a plant that runs its own hearing conservation program and needs the measurements. Data acquisition plus remediation adds a source-by-source plan to lower exposure.
The report includes:
- Exposure table for each employee: time-weighted average, dose against the OSHA permissible exposure limit and against the hearing conservation criterion, average level and C-weighted peak, with each employee's work area and shift times.
- Plant noise map: area sound levels plotted on the floor plan with every measurement position marked, shaded from areas above the action level to areas of low exposure.
- Frequency findings: octave-band data at the key sources, showing which equipment drives the exposure.
- Results against the limits: each result compared with the OSHA action level, the permissible exposure limit and the 140 dB peak limit.
- Test record: measurement positions, operating conditions during the test, and instrument calibration records.
- Remediation roadmap (remediation scope): controls in priority order, starting with low-cost steps such as repairing a failing component, with the workers each step benefits.
Measurement Methods and Exposure Criteria
Memtech Acoustics measures exposure the way OSHA 29 CFR 1910.95 defines it: at the worker, over the full shift. Employees wear shoulder-mounted dosimeters from the start of the shift to the end, and the study samples a cross-section of job roles and work areas. Area measurements with a Class 1 sound level meter run alongside the dosimetry to map levels and pin down individual sources.
Dose is calculated two ways: with the 80 dBA threshold OSHA uses for the hearing conservation criterion, and with the 90 dBA threshold it uses for the permissible exposure limit. Dosimeters carry NIST-traceable calibration and are field-calibrated before and after the test period. Peak readings are checked against field notes, and an exceedance is treated as real unless the data shows it came from handling the instrument.
Dose is calculated two ways: with the 80 dBA threshold OSHA uses for the hearing conservation criterion, and with the 90 dBA threshold it uses for the permissible exposure limit. Dosimeters carry NIST-traceable calibration and are field-calibrated before and after the test period. Peak readings are checked against field notes, and an exceedance is treated as real unless the data shows it came from handling the instrument.
Criteria we report against:
- OSHA permissible exposure limit: 90 dBA as an 8-hour time-weighted average, with a 5 dB exchange rate.
- OSHA action level: 85 dBA as an 8-hour time-weighted average, the level that requires a hearing conservation program.
- OSHA peak limit: impulsive or impact noise should not exceed a 140 dB peak sound pressure level.
- NIOSH recommended exposure limit: 85 dBA as an 8-hour time-weighted average, with a 3 dB exchange rate.
- MSHA criteria: included when the client requires them.
When Noise Exposure Testing Is Not the Right Service
Noise exposure testing measures what each worker receives over a shift. Memtech Acoustics will recommend a different service when the question is about something else.
Testing also shows whether acoustic panels will help. Absorption lowers the reverberant sound that every worker in a room hears. A worker standing next to a machine, though, hears mostly direct sound, which only a barrier, an enclosure or a change at the source will lower.
Testing also shows whether acoustic panels will help. Absorption lowers the reverberant sound that every worker in a room hears. A worker standing next to a machine, though, hears mostly direct sound, which only a barrier, an enclosure or a change at the source will lower.
Other services to consider:
- Neighbors complaining about plant noise: that is community noise, judged at the property line under local ordinance rather than OSHA. See environmental noise impact assessments.
- A new machine that must meet a purchase specification: that is a source-level test at the machine, not a shift exposure. See machine run-off testing.
- Exposures already measured over the action level: the next steps are the program and the controls. See hearing conservation programs and engineered noise control systems.
What Our Clients Say
“Memtech has always been very responsive and produced excellent solutions for our site”
- Nathan Nash, Team Leader, Magnolia Gas Storage, Louisville KY
"Memtech Acoustics was a savior! We had an audit, and they were able to fit us in on short notice and met all the requirements we needed. Highly Recommend!!!"
- Preferred Marble & Granite, Fraser, MI
- Nathan Nash, Team Leader, Magnolia Gas Storage, Louisville KY
"Memtech Acoustics was a savior! We had an audit, and they were able to fit us in on short notice and met all the requirements we needed. Highly Recommend!!!"
- Preferred Marble & Granite, Fraser, MI
The Memtech Difference
At Memtech, noise is our business. Our engineers oversee every step, ensuring that each project is properly delivered, on-time and within budget. This integrated approach delivers predictable results and protects your investment.
Certified Acoustic Professionals
Testing conducted by certified engineers and acoustic specialists, not general contractors or “safety consultants.”
National Standards Alignment
We follow OSHA 1910.95, NIOSH criteria, and ANSI S12.19-1996 methods for noise exposure assessment. Measurements are conducted via ISO procedures or per academically accepted methods.
Engineering Expertise
Noise measurements, analysis, modeling and installation support are overseen by professionals who understand acoustic theory, as well as the implementation of practical solutions.
High Responsiveness, Proven Reliability
We are your trusted local partner providing on-demand support and dependable project execution. Michigan-based with regional reach and national* shipping capabilities.
Confidential & Detailed Reporting
We don’t just submit a report. You are provided with complete documentation, delivered in easy-to-understand language with accurate data and comprehensive drawings.
*Shipping available across the continental USA, and international; installations are offered in select regions.
NOTE: We do not stock custom products in our U.S. warehouse. Ask us about lead times for your project.
NOTE: We do not stock custom products in our U.S. warehouse. Ask us about lead times for your project.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is noise exposure testing and why is it important?
Noise exposure testing measures how much sound workers are exposed to over time using Class 1 sound level meters and personal noise dosimeters. It ensures compliance with OSHA 29 CFR 1910.95 and helps protect employees from hearing loss, fatigue, and long-term health effects. Memtech Acoustics conducts testing during active operations to capture real-world exposure data.
What are OSHA’s noise exposure limits?
OSHA's Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) is a time-weighted average (TWA) of 90 dBA over 8 hours. The Action Level is 85 dBA TWA, which requires implementation of a Hearing Conservation Program, including regular testing, audiometric evaluations, and employee training. Memtech Acoustics benchmarks all testing results against both thresholds.
How is noise exposure testing performed?
Memtech Acoustics performs noise exposure testing through three methods: personal dosimetry (wearable devices that record shift-long exposure), area monitoring (fixed-point measurements at key process locations), and octave band frequency analysis (identifying the character of noise for mitigation selection). All testing uses calibrated, NIST-traceable instrumentation during active operations.
How often should noise exposure testing be conducted?
OSHA requires testing whenever workplace conditions change, such as new machinery, production processes, or facility layouts. Many employers perform annual testing as part of their ongoing hearing conservation programs to stay compliant and proactive. Memtech Acoustics offers recurring testing on quarterly, semi-annual, or annual schedules.
What industries require noise exposure testing most often?
Common industries include manufacturing, construction, energy, automotive, aerospace, food processing, warehousing, and logistics. Memtech Acoustics tests any facility where machinery, tools, or equipment produce sustained sound above 85 dBA.
What happens if we exceed OSHA limits?
If exposure exceeds the Action Level (85 dBA TWA), an ongoing Hearing Conservation Program is required: audiometric testing, hearing protector fit, annual training, and recordkeeping. If exposure exceeds the PEL (90 dBA TWA), employers must add engineering or administrative controls and provide hearing protection until levels drop. Noise exposure testing is the first step that triggers and feeds that program.
Does Memtech Acoustics provide compliance-ready reporting?
Yes. Memtech Acoustics delivers comprehensive, defensible reports that include measurement methods, noise exposure statistics, plant ambient noise maps, frequency analysis, and recommendations. Reports are structured for OSHA compliance, insurance audits, and internal EHS programs.
What is the difference between noise dosimetry and a sound level survey?
A dosimeter is worn by an employee for the full shift and records that person's time-weighted average and dose, the figures OSHA judges compliance on. A sound level survey uses a Class 1 meter at fixed positions to map levels across the floor and find the loudest equipment. Memtech Acoustics usually runs both together: dosimetry shows who is over the limit, and the survey and octave-band data show why.
How do OSHA and NIOSH noise limits differ?
OSHA's permissible exposure limit is 90 dBA as an 8-hour time-weighted average, with a 5 dB exchange rate: each 5 dB increase halves the time allowed. NIOSH recommends 85 dBA over 8 hours with a 3 dB exchange rate, so the allowed time halves with each 3 dB increase. OSHA's limit is the enforceable rule, and the NIOSH limit is more protective. Memtech Acoustics evaluates results against both.
Does OSHA require engineering controls before hearing protection?
Yes. Under 29 CFR 1910.95(b)(1), when exposures exceed OSHA's permissible levels, feasible administrative or engineering controls must be used. Hearing protection is required where those controls do not bring levels within the limits. Memtech Acoustics uses the frequency data from testing to identify the sources, so engineering controls go where they lower exposure most.
How long does a noise dosimetry study take?
Dosimetry runs for each employee's full shift, typically eight hours or more, because OSHA judges exposure over the workday. A study samples a cross-section of employees across job roles and work areas. Memtech Acoustics takes the area measurements during the same visit.
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