Noise Exposure Comparison Chart Infographic
This chart illustrates common sound sources (e.g., conversation, lawnmower, jackhammer) and shows their approximate decibel (dB) levels, along with how long someone can be safely exposed without hearing protection
Very low-level sounds—like something similar to a whisper—fall into the non-hazardous category with infinite safe exposure.
When certain sound sources exceed specific durations (e.g., Traffic at 85 dB for 8 hours), hearing protection is recommended. For very loud sounds (such as those from firecrackers or sirens), the chart shows 0 seconds of safe exposure, meaning hearing protection is essential immediately
Here are some examples of safe exposure times for various sound sources:
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Traffic (~85 dB): ~8 hours of safe exposure per day.
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Lawnmower (~ 100 dB): ~2 hours safe exposure without damage.
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Power tools (~110 dB): Only ~15 minutes of recommended exposure without hearing protection.
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Chainsaw (~120 dB): ~2 minutes safe exposure, per chart.
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Jackhammer (~130 dB): 15 seconds safe exposure (per the chart) before risk of hearing damage.
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EMS siren / firecrackers (~135 dB or more): No safe unprotected exposure time listed; hearing protection is required.
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Those are very low-level sounds that are not likely to cause hearing damage over a typical workday or even longer because the decibel level is well below thresholds where hearing risk accumulates.
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Monitor the noise levels using sound meters or dosimeters.
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Compare your exposure (duration + decibel level) to charts like this to evaluate risk.
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Use appropriate hearing protection (earplugs, earmuffs) when exposures are above safe thresholds.
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Implement noise controls, such as engineering controls (barriers, quieter equipment) and administrative controls (limiting the duration of exposure). This aligns with standard safety practices. OSHA+1
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Decibels measure the intensity of sound, but more importantly, the risk of hearing damage depends both on how loud a sound is AND how long you're exposed to it. Higher dB levels drastically reduce how long you can be exposed before risking damage.
The safe exposure times listed are generally without hearing protection. The moment a sound source exceeds that time (or is very loud), hearing protection is recommended.
While the chart focuses on decibel levels, frequency (how high or low a sound is) also influences how damaging it can be. Higher-frequency sounds can be more harmful to hearing, but the chart is a simplified guide based on decibel magnitude.