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Construction noise standard rather than general industry rule

Summary A construction company asked which noise standard applied to its work after an OSHA publication listed the general industry rule. OSHA said that listing was an error and that 29 CFR 1926.52 covered occupational noise in construction, including hearing conservation. The page is archived and also reproduces a later follow-up letter.
Document
Federal opinion letter
Agency
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Document number
1992-06-29-0
Date issued
June 29, 1992
Status
Archived by the agency
OSHA marks this page as an archive document and says it may no longer represent OSHA policy.
Status last verified October 9, 2026
Topics
Workplace Safety OSHA 1926 Noise Hearing Conservation
Source
View the official document

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OSHA marks this page as an archive document and says it may no longer represent OSHA policy. It may no longer reflect the agency's current position. Treat this page as historical context, not current guidance, and verify current law before relying on anything here.
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NOTICE: This is an OSHA Archive Document, and may no longer represent OSHA Policy. It is presented here as historical content, for research and review purposes only.

June 29, 1992
F. W. Lundy, CSM, CHCM
Corporate Safety Director
BE&K Construction Company
[Recipient address omitted]
Dear Mr. Lundy:
This is in response to your letter of May 4, to Acting Assistant Secretary Dorothy L. Strunk, concerning the standard applicable to occupational noise exposure in the construction industry.
The 1991 edition of publication OSHA 2207 represents a consolidation of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations applicable to construction. You noted that it lists the General Industry Standard for Occupation Noise Exposure, 29 CFR 1910.95, as a standard applicable to the Construction Industry. You wish to know if this is accurate.
The inclusion of 29 CFR 1910.95 in OSHA 2207 is an error. There is a specific construction standard (29 CFR 1926.52) which covers occupational noise in construction work, including hearing conservation.
We appreciate the opportunity to clarify this matter for you.
Sincerely,
Patricia K. Clark, Director
Directorate of Compliance Programs

[Follow-up requester letter and later OSHA response reproduced on OSHA page; omitted here.]

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