Reference & AI

DAFI 48-127

Air Force

OCCUPATIONAL NOISE AND HEARING CONSERVATION PROGRAM

Reviewed by Guilherme Correia, active-duty U.S. Air Force

DAFI 48-127, "OCCUPATIONAL NOISE AND HEARING CONSERVATION PROGRAM", is a Department of the Air Force publication, dated March 17, 2026.

Published

March 17, 2026

OPR

AF/SG

Headquarters, Department of the Air Force

Official document

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DAFI 48-127 — index record

NumberDAFI 48-127
TitleOCCUPATIONAL NOISE AND HEARING CONSERVATION PROGRAM
PublishedMarch 17, 2026
Certified currentMarch 17, 2026
Guidance memorandumSeptember 2, 2026
Office of primary responsibilityAF/SG
Issued byHeadquarters, Department of the Air Force
Status on the indexCurrent
Last index actionGM, September 2, 2026
Source indexAir Force e-Publishing
Index last readOctober 20, 2026

Copied from Air Force e-Publishing (index). The publication itself is the authority; this page does not summarize or interpret it. Verify the current edition on the index before acting.

From the publication itself

Text below is lifted mechanically from the official PDF (57 pages, read October 20, 2026) with no editing or interpretation. Quote the document, not this page.

Purpose, in the publication’s words

This publication is available for downloading or ordering on the e- Publishing website at www.e-Publishing.af.mil. RELEASABILITY: There are no releasability restrictions on this publication.

Summary of changes, as printed

This document has been substantially revised and should be reviewed in its entirety. Major changes include: All Active Duty, Guard, and Reserve military personnel are required to receive annual audiograms, added hearing protection fit testing requirements for individuals enrolled in the HCP in accordance with (IAW) DoDI 6055.12, an added requirement that individual audiograms completed as a part of the Separation History Physical Examinations will be documented on a DD Form 2215, Reference Audiogram, or DD 2216, Hearing Conservation Data, and an added requirement to track all audiogram follow-up and fit-testing requirements in Aeromedical Services Information Management System (ASIMS). The document also includes substantial administrative template and terminology changes such as a chapter addition on guidance and procedures, the removal of Attachment 7, Office of Workers’ Compensation Program Hearing Loss Medical Requirements as paraphrased from the Department of Labor Hearing Loss Section Instruction, the removal of the Acoustic & Vibration Center of Excellence, and the removal of the Hearing Conservation Center. Several attachments have been reformatted and expanded into chapters to include certification, equipment standards, and testing protocols; hearing protection; fitness and risk evaluations; Medical Readiness Command (MRC)/Major Command (MAJCOM) Professional Supervisor details; and a noise exposure assessment strategy.

Contents

  1. Chapter 1—PROGRAM OVERVIEWp. 6
  2. Chapter 2—ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIESp. 7
  3. Chapter 3—GUIDANCE AND PROCEDURESp. 32
  4. Chapter 5—HEARING PROTECTIONp. 45
  5. Chapter 6—FITNESS AND RISK EVALUATIONSp. 52
  6. Chapter 8—NOISE EXPOSURE ASSESSMENT STRATEGYp. 58
  7. Attachment 1—GLOSSARY OF REFERENCES AND SUPPORTING INFORMATIONp. 60
All 62 contents entries
  1. Chapter 1—PROGRAM OVERVIEWp. 6
  2. 1.1. The Hearing Conservation Programp. 6
  3. 1.2. Program and Written Planp. 6
  4. 1.3. Applicabilityp. 6
  5. 1.4. Hearing Protector Fit-Test Requirementsp. 6
  6. 1.5. Separation History and Physical Examinationp. 6
  7. 1.6. Joint Base Considerationsp. 6
  8. 1.7. Occupational and Environmental Health Working Group Reviewp. 6
  9. 1.8. OEH MOA/HTSA Considerationsp. 6
  10. Chapter 2—ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIESp. 7
  11. 2.2. Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition (SAF/AQ)p. 7
  12. 2.3. Department of the Air Force Surgeon General (AF/SG)p. 7
  13. 2.4. AF/SG Policy and Resources Directorate (AF/SGMED)p. 7
  14. 2.5. Air Force Safety Center (AFSEC)p. 8
  15. 2.6. Air Force Medical Command (AFMEDCOM)p. 8
  16. 2.7. Medical Readiness Commands (MRCs)/Major Commands (MAJCOMs)p. 8
  17. 2.8. Air Education and Training Command (AETC) and Service Academiesp. 9
  18. 2.10. Wing or Delta Commandersp. 11
  19. 2.11. Unit Commandersp. 11
  20. 2.12. Workplace Supervisorsp. 12
  21. 2.13. Employees with Workplace Hazardous Noise and Ototoxic Chemical Exposuresp. 14
  22. 2.14. Directors of Base Personnel (Military and Civilian)p. 15
  23. 2.15. Host Installation and/or Organizational Safety Staffp. 16
  24. 2.16. MTF Director or Medical Commanderp. 16
  25. 2.17. Chief of Aerospace Medicine (SGP)p. 16
  26. 2.18. Medical Squadron/Unit Commander or ARC/SGPp. 16
  27. 2.19. Bioenvironmental Engineering (BE)p. 17
  28. 2.20. Public Health (PH)p. 19
  29. 2.21. Biomedical Equipment Technician (BMET)p. 27
  30. 2.23. Flight Medicine or ARC Flight Surgeonp. 29
  31. 2.24. MRC/MAJCOM Professional Supervisor or MTF Audiologistp. 30
  32. 2.25. Occupational and Environmental Health Working Group (OEHWG)p. 31
  33. Chapter 3—GUIDANCE AND PROCEDURESp. 32
  34. 3.1. Hazardous Noise Surveillancep. 32
  35. 3.2. Noise Exposure Limits on Whole Body Effectsp. 34
  36. 3.3. Noise Exposure Limits on Job Performancep. 36
  37. 3.4. Music Exposure Criteriap. 38
  38. 3.5. Noise Surveys and Dosimetryp. 39
  39. 3.6. Noise Controlp. 41
  40. 4.1. Certificationp. 42
  41. 4.2. Audiometric Equipment Standardsp. 42
  42. 4.3. Calibration, Testing, and Functional Checksp. 42
  43. 4.4. DOEHRS-HC/DRp. 43
  44. Chapter 5—HEARING PROTECTIONp. 45
  45. 5.1. Use of Personal Hearing Protectionp. 45
  46. 5.2. Hearing Protection Devices and Costsp. 45
  47. 5.3. Estimating Noise Attenuation for HPsp. 45
  48. 5.4. Limits of Hearing Protection Performancep. 46
  49. 5.5. Fitting and Dispensing Earplugsp. 47
  50. 5.6. Types of Hearing Protective Devicesp. 47
  51. 5.7. Education and Training on Proper Use, Care, and Maintenance of HPsp. 51
  52. Chapter 6—FITNESS AND RISK EVALUATIONSp. 52
  53. 6.1. Job Functions and/or Safety Risksp. 52
  54. 6.2. Flying and other Special Operational Dutyp. 52
  55. 6.3. Non-Flying Personnelp. 52
  56. 6.4. The Job Capability and Safety Analysisp. 52
  57. 6.5. Medical Determinations and Recommendationsp. 53
  58. 7.1. Overview of Supportp. 55
  59. 7.2. Audiology Referralsp. 55
  60. Chapter 8—NOISE EXPOSURE ASSESSMENT STRATEGYp. 58
  61. 8.1. Noise Exposure Assessmentsp. 58
  62. Attachment 1—GLOSSARY OF REFERENCES AND SUPPORTING INFORMATIONp. 60

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Air Force index

REF: DAFI 48-127, effective March 17, 2026

Air Force e-Publishing — DAFI 48-127

This is an index record, not the publication. The official PDF is the authority; verify the current edition before acting.

Reviewed by Guilherme Correia · Military Toolkit editorial

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