California Code of Regulations
Title 8 - Industrial Relations
Division 1 - Department of Industrial Relations
Chapter 4 - Division of Industrial Safety
Subchapter 7 - General Industry Safety Orders
Group 15 - Occupational Noise and Ergonomics
Article 105 - Control of Noise Exposure
Section 5096 - Exposure Limits for Noise
Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 38, September 20, 2024
(a) Protection against the effects of noise exposure shall be provided when the sound levels exceed those shown in Table N-1 of this section when measured on the A-scale of a standard sound level meter at slow response.
(b) When employees are subjected to sound levels exceeding those listed in Table N-1 of this section, feasible administrative or engineering controls shall be utilized. If such controls fail to reduce sound levels within the levels of the table, personal protective equipment shall be provided and used to reduce sound levels within the levels of the table.
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Table N-1 Permissible Noise Exposure1 |
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Permitted Duration | Permitted Duration | |||||||
| Sound Level | Per Workday (hours- | per Workday Sound Level | (hours- | |||||
| (dBA) | minutes) | hours | (dBA) | minutes) | hours | |||
| 90.......................... | 8-0.......................... | ..........................8.00 | ..........................103 | ..........................1-19 | ..........................1.32 | |||
| 91.......................... | 6-58.......................... | ..........................6.96 | ..........................104 | ..........................1-9 | ..........................1.15 | |||
| 92.......................... | 6-4.......................... | ..........................6.06 | ..........................105 | ..........................1-0 | ..........................1.00 | |||
| 93.......................... | 5-17.......................... | ..........................5.28 | ..........................106 | ..........................0-52 | ..........................0.86 | |||
| 94.......................... | 4-36.......................... | ..........................4.60 | ..........................107 | ..........................0-46 | ..........................0.76 | |||
| 95.......................... | 4-0.......................... | ..........................4.00 | ..........................108 | ..........................0-40 | ..........................0.66 | |||
| 96.......................... | 3-29.......................... | ..........................3.48 | ..........................109 | ..........................0-34 | ..........................0.56 | |||
| 97.......................... | 3-2.......................... | ..........................3.03 | ..........................110 | ..........................0-30 | ..........................0.50 | |||
| 98.......................... | 2-38.......................... | ..........................2.63 | ..........................111 | ..........................0-26 | ..........................0.43 | |||
| 99.......................... | 2-18.......................... | ..........................2.30 | ..........................112 | ..........................0-23 | ..........................0.38 | |||
| 100.......................... | 2-0.......................... | ..........................2.00 | ..........................113 | ..........................0-20 | ..........................0.33 | |||
| 101.......................... | 1-44.......................... | ..........................1.73 | ..........................114 | ..........................0-17 | ..........................0.28 | |||
| 102.......................... | 1-31.......................... | ..........................1.52 | ..........................115 | ..........................0-15 | ..........................0.25 | |||
1 When the daily noise exposure is composed of two or more periods of noise exposure of different levels, their combined effect should be considered, rather than the individual effect of each. If the sum of the following fractions: C1/T1 + C2/T2 ... Cn/Tn exceeds unity, then, the mixed exposure should be considered to exceed the limit value. Cn indicates the total time of exposure at a specified noise level, and Tn indicates the total time of exposure permitted at that level.
(c) If the variations in noise level involve maxima at intervals of 1 second or less, the noise is to be considered continuous.
(d) Exposure to impulsive or impact noise should not exceed 140 dB peak sound pressure level.
Note: Authority cited and Reference: Section 142.3, Labor Code.
