National Protect Your Hearing Month 2027

What is National Protect Your Hearing Month?

National Protect Your Hearing Month is observed every October. Hearing health organizations use it to raise awareness of noise-induced hearing loss, which builds slowly, is usually painless and cannot be reversed.

Why it matters for workplaces

Hazardous noise is one of the most common workplace exposures. OSHA requires a hearing conservation program when workers are exposed at or above an 85 dBA eight-hour average, including noise monitoring, audiometric testing, hearing protection and training.

Ways to take part

1. Fit-test hearing protection. Check that workers are getting real protection from their earplugs or earmuffs, not just the rating on the box.
2. Review audiogram results. Follow up on any standard threshold shifts that have not been addressed.
3. Update noise surveys. Remeasure areas where equipment, layout or shift length has changed.
4. Reduce noise at the source. Look for enclosures, maintenance fixes or quieter equipment.
5. Talk about hearing off the job. Remind workers that loud hobbies and headphones add to their total exposure.

Frequently Asked Questions: National Protect Your Hearing Month

When is National Protect Your Hearing Month?

It runs for the whole month of October every year.

How loud is too loud at work?

OSHA's action level is an 85 dBA eight-hour average. A simple rule of thumb: if you have to raise your voice to be heard by someone an arm's length away, the noise may be hazardous and is worth measuring.