In general, the louder the noise, the smaller the exposure time before hearing protection is required. For most people, contact to a noise level of 90dB for an eight-hour workday is the determined allowable before hearing protection is required. When you’re exposed to work-related noise at or above 85 dB averaged over eight hours, employers are obligatory to start a hearing conservation program. Though, if the noise level at any point in the workday extents to 115 dB and lasts longer than 15 minutes, hearing protection will be required.