Hearing loss more common in construction compared to all other industries
By Peter Fabris, Contributing Editor
Hearing loss is more common among noise-exposed construction workers compared to noise-exposed workers in all other industries, according to a study by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
The study, “Prevalence of Hearing Loss among Noise-Exposed U.S. Workers within the Construction Sector, 2010-2019,” found that the sub-sectors with the highest prevalences of hearing loss are:
- Highway, street, and bridge construction (28%)
- Site preparation contractors (26%)
- New single-family housing construction (except operative builders) (25%)
- Oil and gas pipeline and related structures construction (25%)
- Other building finishing contractors (25%)
“Construction consistently rates among the top industries for the prevalence and risk of hearing loss that is severe enough that it affects workers’ daily lives,” said Elizabeth Masterson, research epidemiologist and lead author of the study. “In addition to providing updated statistics that indicate more needs to be done, this study endeavors to provide detailed strategies for better protecting construction workers from hearing loss.”
Occupational hearing loss is preventable. Strategies to reduce noise exposure include:
- Buying and selling quieter equipment
- Keeping moving parts oiled and well-maintained so they produce less noise
- Enclosing noise sources
- Establishing work practices or policies that reduce the number of workers exposed to noise and the amount of time they spend in noisy areas