Final answer:
Personnel must enroll in a hearing conservation program when exposed to noise levels at or above 85 dB for 8-hour daily exposures without hearing protection, as per government and professional association standards.
Step-by-step explanation:
Personnel are required to enter into a hearing conservation program when they are exposed to noise levels at or above 85 decibels (dB) for an 8-hour daily exposure without hearing protection. This threshold has been established by several government agencies and health-related professional associations as a safety standard to prevent noise-induced hearing loss. It is mandatory for workplaces to adhere to these guidelines and implement a hearing conservation program when average noise exposures exceed this level.
In addition to noise exposure levels, there are also workplace regulations that require employers with more than 100 employees to provide written notice before significant workplace changes like plant closings or large layoffs. However, this requirement is separate from the standards related to noise exposure and hearing conservation.