12.2.2.4-3 Hearing Protection
Steps should be taken to protect workers from noise.
Additional Information: Where sustained noise levels cannot be maintained below 75 dBA (continuous), and below 85 dBA (8.0-hour exposure), and below 140 dB peak SPL (impulse or impact), personnel should use personal hearing protection devices, considering the following:
- If personal hearing protection devices are required, the system design should accommodate the wearing of personal hearing protection devices (ear plugs or ear muffs) within the context of required tasks and activities.
- Accommodations for hearing protection devices should include communications activities, listening (auditory surveillance) tasks, visual tasks, physical comfort in the operational environment, and any other considerations affecting the likelihood that the user would wear the personal hearing protection devices.
- Personal hearing protection devices should be provided in accordance with Figure 12.7.
Administrative controls also should limit the amount of time that workers spend in noisy locations. 1472G

Figure 12.7 Permissible Noise Exposure Limits For Use Of Hearing Protectors
(Source is Figure 37 in Mil-Std-1472G, 2012)