A top OSHA official on Nov. 3 refuted as “misinformation” reports floating around the occupational safety and health field that the agency may tighten its noise exposure limit after having scrapped a controversial plan to re-interpret the meaning of feasibility in its noise standards early this year. The agency denies speculation that it is trying to reduce the eight-hour time-weighted average exposure limit to below the current 90-dBA threshold, and says it wants to work cooperatively with employers to abate high noise levels. Richard Fairfax, deputy assistant secretary for OSHA, told stakeho
December 29, 2025