OSHA Noise Charts as It Relates to Hearing Damage
| OSHA Daily Permissible Noise Level Exposure | |
| Hours per day | Sound level |
| 8 | 90dB |
| 6 | 92dB |
| 4 | 95dB |
| 3 | 97dB |
| 2 | 100dB |
| 1.5 | 102dB |
| 1 | 105dB |
| 0.5 | 110dB |
| 0.25 or less | 115dB |
And some additional fun hearing facts collected from a variety of sources...
|
Environmental Noise
|
|
| Weakest sound heard | 0dB |
| Whisper Quiet Library at 6' | 30dB |
| Normal conversation at 3' | 60-65dB |
| Telephone dial tone | 80dB |
| City Traffic (inside car) | 85dB |
| Train whistle at 500', Truck Traffic | 90dB |
| Jackhammer at 50' | 95dB |
| Subway train at 200' | 95dB |
| Level at which sustained exposure may result in hearing loss | 90 - 95dB |
| Hand Drill | 98dB |
| Power mower at 3' | 107dB |
| Snowmobile, Motorcycle | 100dB |
| Power saw at 3' | 110dB |
| Sandblasting, Loud Rock Concert | 115dB |
| Pain begins | 125dB |
| Pneumatic riveter at 4' | 125dB |
| Even short term exposure can cause permanent damage - Loudest recommended exposure WITH hearing protection | 140dB |
| Jet engine at 100' | 140dB |
| 12 Gauge Shotgun Blast | 165dB |
| Death of hearing tissue | 180dB |
| Loudest sound possible | 194dB |
| Perceptions of Increases in Decibel Level | |
| Imperceptible Change | 1dB |
| Barely Perceptible Change | 3dB |
| Clearly Noticeable Change | 5dB |
| About Twice as Loud | 10dB |
| About Four Times as Loud | 20dB |
| Sound Levels Found in Music | |
| Normal piano practice | 60 -70dB |
| Fortissimo Singer, 3' | 70dB |
| Chamber music, small auditorium | 75 - 85dB |
| Piano Fortissimo | 84 - 103dB |
| Violin | 82 - 92dB |
| Cello | 85 -111dB |
| Oboe | 95-112dB |
| Flute | 92 -103dB |
| Piccolo | 90 -106dB |
| Clarinet | 85 - 114dB |
| French horn | 90 - 106dB |
| Trombone | 85 - 114dB |
| Tympani and bass drum | 106dB |
| Walkman on 5/10 | 94dB |
| Symphonic music peak | 120 - 137dB |
| Amplifier, rock, 4-6' | 120dB |
| Rock music peak | 150dB |
Sources:
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
Binge Listening: Is exposure to leisure noise causing hearing loss in young Australians? [pdf] – Australian Hearing, National Acoustic Laboratories
Occupational Noise Exposure. OSHA
Some highly rated hearing protection devices on Amazon.
Any information provided on this website should not be considered medical advice or a substitute for a consultation with a physician. If you have a medical problem, contact your local physician for diagnosis and treatment. Advertisements present are clearly labelled and in no way support the website or influence the contents. Please note that as an Amazon Associate, we may earn small commissions from qualifying purchases from Amazon.com.