Hearing Conservation

Noise induced hearing loss begins to occur when the sound level is above a certain threshold, set by standards to typically 80 dB, called the "threshold level".. Above the threshold is a payoff: louder sound is permitted, but only for a shorter time. Every 3 dB louder cuts the safely allowed time in half (i.e. 85dB for 8 hours, 88 for 4).

Audiences typically do not receive enough sound over a movie to be damaged; production workers are exposed to louder sounds over a longer period of time, and sometimes resort to wearing equipment that protects their ears. Live concerts have a louder sound capacity over longer time than movies, so they tend to be more dangerous in regards to potential ear damage.