Occupational hearing loss is a major concern among industrialized countries. Hearing loss is permanent and yet it is very preventable. Although understanding noise exposure and implementation of effective control strategies was thought to be seemingly straightforward, a dramatic reduction in recordable hearing loss has not been observed among workers. In response, many countries have recently promulgated new requirements related to managing noise exposure including lower limits for inclusion into hearing conservation programs, hearing protection and training. The underlying science of properly assessing, managing and controlling noise and hearing loss risks is highly complex. This symposium highlights recent research and knowledge related to assessing, managing, and preventing noise induced hearing loss.