EU Action levels for noise protection at work

	First Action level (minimum) provide protection	Second Action level mandatory protection	Maximum Exposure limit value
8 hours	80 dB(A)	85 dB(A)	87 dB(A)
4 hours	83 dB(A)	88 dB(A)	90 dB(A)
2 hours	86 dB(A)	91 dB(A)	93 dB(A)
1 hours	89 dB(A)	94 dB(A)	96 dB(A)
30 minutes	92 dB(A)	97 dB(A)	99 dB(A)
15 minutes	95 dB(A)	100 dB(A)	102 dB(A)
1 minute	107 dB(A)	111 dB(A)	113 dB(A)

Source: Adapted from Table 3, SCENIHR,  Potential health risks of exposure to noise from personal music players and mobile phones including a music playing function (2008), Sections 3.3.5., Page 21