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Under OSHA's noise rule, each worker's annual hearing test is compared to what?

That worker's own baseline audiogram.

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  1. The average worker's hearing
  2. Their own baseline hearing test ✔
  3. Last year's noise readings

Why: In a hearing conservation program, each annual audiogram is compared with that worker's baseline audiogram to catch hearing loss, called a standard threshold shift.

Huh, didn't know that: Hearing tests in the program must be free to the employee.

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Why did the hearing test go well? Everyone listened carefully.
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References

Answer: Their own baseline hearing test. In a hearing conservation program, each annual audiogram is compared with that worker's baseline audiogram to catch hearing loss, called a standard threshold shift.

  1. 29 CFR 1910.95 Occupational noise exposure www.ecfr.gov/current/title-29/subtitle-B/chapter-XVII/part-1910/subpart-G/section-1910.95
    Each employee's annual audiogram shall be compared to that employee's baseline audiogram
    Checked 2026-10-10.

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