Regional Emphasis Program (REP) for Noise Hazards

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Occupational Safety and Health Administration
DIRECTIVE NUMBER: BHM-CPL 04-00-001
SUBJECT: Regional Emphasis Program (REP) for Noise Hazards
REGION: Birmingham Region
SIGNATURE DATE: August 6, 2026 EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2026
ABSTRACT
Purpose: This instruction updates and renews an emphasis program for inspections
of health hazards related to high noise levels and other industry recognized
hazards in Sawmills, Planing Mills, Wood Pallets and Skids Manufacturers,
Concrete Products Manufacturers (except block and brick), Plastic
Products Manufacturing, Fabricated Metal Products, Surgical Appliance
and Supplies Manufacturing, Motor vehicle parts manufacturing, Boat
Building, and Animal Slaughtering. NAICSs include 3116XX, 321xxx, 3261xx,
3273xx (except 327331), 332xxx, 336360, 336612, 337215, and 339113.
Scope: This instruction applies to all Birmingham Region Federal Offices.
References: See Section III.
Cancellations: This instruction supersedes OSHA Regional Instruction BHM-CPL-04-00-
001, Regional Emphasis Program (REP) for Noise Hazards, April 17, 2025.
State Impact: No Impact.
Ac
tion Offices: This instruction applies to Baton Rouge, Birmingham, Jackson, Little Rock,
Mobile, and Nashville Federal Area Offices.
Originating Office: Birmingham Regional Office
Contact: Assistant Regional Administrator for Enforcement Programs
By and Under the Authority of
DORINDA HUGHES
Regional Administrator

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Executive Summary

This instruction reissues an emphasis program for inspections of health hazards related to high
noise levels and other industry recognized hazards in Sawmills, Planing Mills, Wood Pallets and
Skids Manufacturers, Cement and Concrete Products Manufacturers (except block and brick),
Plastic Products Manufacturing, Fabricated Metal Products, Motor vehicle parts manufacturing,
Boat Building, Fabricated products of wood and non-wood materials, Surgical and Prosthetic
appliances and Animal Slaughtering. NAICSs include 3116xx, 321xxx, 3261xx, 3273xx (except
327331), 332xxx, 336360, 336612, 337215, and 339113.

Significant Changes

• Added Baton Rouge, Little Rock and Nashville Area Offices.
• Updated the Bureau of Labor Statistics information.
• Replaced Poultry Slaughtering (311615) with Animal Slaughtering (3116xx) NAICS codes

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Table of Contents

I. Purpose. ................................................................................................................................................ 4
II. Scope. .................................................................................................................................................... 4
III. References. ....................................................................................................................................... 4
IV. Cancellations. .................................................................................................................................... 4
V. Expiration. ......................................................................................................................................... 4
VI. Action Offices. ....................................................................................................................................... 4
A. Responsible Office. ........................................................................................................................... 4
B. Action Office. .................................................................................................................................... 4
VII. Federal Program Change. .................................................................................................................. 5
VIII. Significant Changes. .......................................................................................................................... 5
IX. Background ....................................................................................................................................... 5
X. Inspection Goals ................................................................................................................................ 5
XI. Scheduling ......................................................................................................................................... 5
XII. Procedures ........................................................................................................................................ 6
XIII. Recording in OIS ................................................................................................................................ 7
XIV. Outreach ......................................................................................................................................................7
XV. Evaluation ......................................................................................................................................... 7

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I. Purpose.
This instruction reissues an emphasis program for inspections of health hazards related
to high noise levels and other industry recognized hazards in Sawmills, Planing Mills,
Wood Pallets and Skids Manufacturers, Cement and Concrete Products Manufacturers
(except block and brick), Plastic Products Manufacturing, Fabricated Metal Products,
Motor vehicle parts manufacturing, Boat Building, Fabricated products of wood and non-
wood materials, Surgical and Prosthetic appliances, and Animal Slaughtering. NAICSs
include 3116xx, 321xxx, 3261xx, 3273xx (except 327331), 332xxx, 336360, 336612,
337215, and 339113.
II. Scope.
This instruction applies to Baton Rouge, Birmingham, Jackson, Little Rock, Mobile, and
Nashville Federal Offices.
III. References.
A. OSHA Instruction CPL 02-00-025, Scheduling System for Programmed
Inspections, January 4, 1995.
B. OSHA Instruction CPL 04-00-002, Procedures for Approval of Local Emphasis
Programs (LEPs), November 13, 2018.
C. OSHA Instruction CPL 02-00-164, Field Operations Manual (FOM), February 9,
2026, or current update.
D. SFPA, SHLMA, AND WWPA - Sawmill Noise Control Engineering Guide.
E. NIOSH – Industrial Noise Control Manual.
F. NIOSH - Topic Page “Noise and Hearing Loss Prevention”.
G. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) – Annual Industry Data.
H. OSHA Instruction TED 01-00-015, OSHA Technical Manual – Section III, Chapter 5,
Noise, April 28, 2022.
I. Establishment- Targeting Lists for Emphasis Programs policy memo, dated
November 12, 2014.

IV. Cancellations.
This instruction supersedes OSHA Regional Instruction BHM-CPL-04-00-001, Regional
Emphasis Program (REP) for Noise Hazards, April 17, 2025.

V. Expiration.
This instruction will expire five years from the effective date, unless extended.
VI. Action Offices.
A. Responsible Office.
Birmingham Regional Office – Enforcement Programs.
B. Action Office.
Baton Rouge, Birmingham, Jackson, Little Rock, Mobile, and Nashville Federal
Offices.

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VII. Federal Program Change.
None.
VIII. Significant Changes.
Added Baton Rouge, Little Rock and Nashville Federal Area offices. Update Bureau of
Labor Statistics information. Replaced Poultry Slaughtering (311615) with Animal
Slaughtering (3116XX) NAICS codes

IX. Background.
Approximately 30 million workers are exposed to hazardous noise exposures on the job
and over 9 million are at risk of hearing loss from occupational exposure to noise, which
remains a persistent cause of employee illness in the workplace. Exposure to excessive
levels of noise, coupled with inadequate engineering and administrative controls, lack of
personal protective equipment, and implementation of an effective hearing conservation
program continue to put workers at significant risk of permanent impairment. Noise-
induced hearing loss is one of the most common occupational diseases and is the second
most self-reported occupational illness or injury. In addition to hearing loss, other health
hazards in these industries may include exposure to heat, dust, silica, hexavalent
chromium and organic solvents.

A review of BLS data shows there were 14,000 work-related hearing loss illness cases in
2024. Of those cases, approximately 64% occurred in the manufacturing industry. The
2024 incidence rate of hearing losses in Wood Product Manufacturing (20.3) was 18.2
times more than that of the Private Industry (1.1). The incidence rate for hearing losses
in Animal Slaughtering (21.1) was about 20 times more than that of Private Industry. The
hearing loss incidence rate for Fabricated Metal Product processing was 7.6 which was
still more than 6 times that of Private Industry.

X. Inspection Goals.
The Area Director, or their designee, will determine at the beginning of the fiscal year
the number of inspections they will conduct under this program.

XI. Scheduling.
A. The area office will develop a list of establishments following the protocol
provided in CPL 02-00-025, paragraph B.1.a.(2)c which states that when no
establishment list is provided by the national office, the Area Director shall
compile a complete list considering all establishments within the coverage of the
office and using the best available information (e.g., commerce directories,
commercial telephone listings, local permits, local knowledge, internet).
B. Adjustments to the list for additions and deletions will follow guidelines in CPL 02-
00-025, paragraph B.1.b.(1)(b)(6).
C. After the establishment list for the area office has been obtained and adjusted as
necessary, establishments on the list shall be numbered consecutively beginning

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with the number one, skipping deletions. Using a random number method and
following the guidelines in OSHA CPL 02-00-025, Appendix C, a local emphasis
program inspection register shall be developed in the area office. Establishments
will be selected in the order prescribed by the random numbers until the total of
establishments selected equals the number of projected inspections for the
year. The resulting list shall constitute the program inspection register.
D. Establishments may be selected from the inspection register for inspection in an
order that makes efficient use of available resources. If any establishment on the
inspection register is documented to be unavailable for inspection, the next
originally unscheduled establishment according to the application of the random
number table shall replace it on the inspection register.
E. Since employees are subject to multiple hazards in industries covered by the REP,
at all inspections performed under this REP, the injury and illness records for the
past five years shall be reviewed for trends that may identify a common hazard at
the workplace. Where injury and illness trends are identified as having occurred
and the industrial hygienist (IH) is qualified to address the hazards, the inspection
shall be expanded. If the IH is not trained or familiarized to evaluate certain safety
hazards, a referral shall be made to a safety compliance officer for investigating
the hazards.
F. Establishments with 10 or fewer employees are to be included in this program.

XII. Procedures.
A. Programmed Inspections. Upon entering the facility, the Compliance Safety and
Health Officer (CSHO) shall verify the NAICS code of the establishment. If the
NAICS code is not one of those targeted in this REP, the CSHO shall exit the facility
and code as “No Inspection.”
B. Unprogrammed inspections. If noise hazards are identified in facilities under the
covered NAICS, they shall be evaluated in accordance with this program.
C. All inspections will be partial health inspections; however, the CSHO will address
any hazards in plain view or submit a referral for certain safety issues.
D. Noise evaluations are conducted in accordance with Section III: Chapter 5 of the
OSHA Technical Manual TED 01-00-015. The case file(s) will contain
documentation of noise surveys, screenings, and sampling results.
E. Engineering controls will be evaluated for all high noise sources.
F. If other industry recognized hazards exist, they shall be evaluated.
G. Inspections under this REP will also identify and include procedures from other
applicable emphasis programs (NEP, REP, or LEP) for the covered
NAICSs. Example: Worksites covered by CPL 03-00-027, National Emphasis
Program on Amputations, conducted under this REP will address amputation
hazards in accordance with Paragraph XI of CPL 03-00-027.
H. CSHO Protection. The CSHO will follow current guidance in the OSHA Safety and
Health Management System Manual. To avoid potential exposure to excessive
levels of noise, the CSHO should review the SHMS chapter beforehand. While

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conducting noise evaluations, CSHO should wear protective equipment
appropriate for the site, including hearing protection.

XIII. Recording in OIS.
The Inspection Forms for all inspections conducted in establishments that are covered
by this REP shall be coded as initiating type Programmed Planned and “HINOISE.” If
other emphasis programs are addressed during the inspection, those applicable OIS
codes will also be included in the case file documentation. Example: Amputation
hazards found in a covered NAICS may be coded as “AMPUTATE” under the Secondary
Emphasis Program.

XIV. Outreach.
All REPs must contain an outreach component that must be ongoing throughout the
effective period of the program. These outreach efforts should be coordinated with
or include the consultation program for that area. The method of outreach is at the
discretion of the respective Area Directors and can consist of one or more of the
following components.

1. Broadcast mail-outs (Appendix G to § 1910.95 - Monitoring Noise
Levels Non-Mandatory Informational Appendix), emails, or program
information
2. Stakeholder meetings
3. Targeted training sessions
4. Presentations to the affected group(s)

The Birmingham, Jackson, and Mobile Area Offices have already completed outreach
activities as they were previously participating in the REP. In contrast, the Baton Rouge,
Little Rock, and Nashville Area Offices are new to this REP and must conduct outreach
programs that support the goals of this program. These outreach efforts should begin at
least three months before the start of inspections and continue on an ongoing basis
thereafter.

XV. Evaluation.
An evaluation of the program will be conducted midway through and at the completion
of the effective period that addresses whether the program advances OSHA’s goals and
initiatives and will include quantitative and qualitative measures.