The sound level at which a noise dosimeter starts to accumulate sound into the calculations used to measure a personal noise dose reading. All levels of noise below the cutoff level will be treated as if they were 0 dB and excluded form the calculation of the noise dose value according to the requirements of the OSHA workplace noise standards. Thus, if the noise levels is continuous at 79dB all day there will be no contribution to the day's dose because the readings do not exceed the 80dB cutoff level. The cutoff level is also known as the threshold value. Even though the level below the cutoff is counted as zero contribution the time must still be included in the overall exposure results.