Just what is the “current situation?” I will start with the premise that most companies aren’t even doing what is considered the minimum. In 1989 the NOSE Study conducted by NIOSH produced the results shown in the table. The study concluded that most small and medium companies have no formal hearing conservation processes in place. Specific elements of hearing conservation, such as, audiometry and monitoring, are performed by 5% or fewer of the small and medium companies. Most appear to be relying entirely on hearing protection - and even that is only about 50%. It appears that only the larger companies are trying to maintain at least a minimally effective program. Does this mean that the hearing health of workers is limited only to those larger companies that can afford it?