Abstract: A personal noise monitoring system and method for operating the same. Sound pressure data from inside the ears of a user of hearing protection device (HPD) are acquired from microphones in the HPD and reported to a master control unit. Simultaneously, the master control unit receives sound pressure data from the ambient environment in which the user is located. The data are reported to a central server for processing. The central server may use the data to determine in near real time or real time whether the user of the HPD is at risk for exposure to excess sound levels and to take remedial action while the user is still in the ambient environment.