Society For Human Resource Management (SHRM) Certified Professional Practice Exam

How might organizations ensure compliance with OSHA noise regulations?

1. By providing employee training

2. By implementing regular break times

3. By monitoring decibel levels regularly

4. By increasing employee wages

The correct answer is: By monitoring decibel levels regularly

Monitoring decibel levels regularly is critical for organizations to ensure compliance with OSHA noise regulations. This practice helps in identifying areas where noise exposure exceeds permissible levels, allowing organizations to take necessary actions to mitigate risks to employees’ hearing. Regular monitoring can provide data on noise levels over time, which is essential for assessing compliance and making informed decisions about necessary changes in work practices, equipment, or engineering controls to protect employees. By staying proactive in measuring and addressing noise exposure, organizations can effectively manage their compliance with OSHA standards and maintain a safer workplace. While training employees on the effects of noise and methods to protect their hearing is beneficial, it does not directly address the nuances of compliance as effectively as monitoring does. Similarly, implementing regular break times can help reduce overall exposure to noise but does not substitute the need for measuring and ensuring that noise levels remain within safe limits. Increasing employee wages does not have a direct correlation to noise compliance and does not address the regulatory requirements put forth by OSHA. Thus, monitoring decibel levels serves as the most direct means of achieving compliance with OSHA noise regulations.