Hearing Threats in the Workplace

People do not think of hearing loss when they think of the most common injuries sustained in the workplace. However, hearing loss affects 48 million people in the United States, which makes it the third most widespread medical ailment in America. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) stated that 22 million employees run the risk of suffering from noise-induced hearing loss annually. As much as sixty percent of employees working all over the United States are anticipated to sustain some type of hearing impairment.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) conducted a recent study in 2016 that suggests that out of 8 workers, 1 will sustain some type of damage to hearing in the workplace. Specific industries were found to have higher cases of hearing damage than others.

The reports from the above study found that the mining industry has the highest amount of hearing loss reported amongst its workers (17%). This was closely followed by the construction industry, with a 16% hearing loss found within the workers, while the manufacturing industry comes third with approximately 14% of the employees being affected with some type of hearing loss.

The most widespread type of hearing loss sustained in the workplace is noise-induced. This type of hearing loss results from prolonged exposure to loud levels of noise. Dangerous exposure to loud noises can damage the delicate hair follicles within the inner ear which can result in loss of hearing.

It is generally recommended to keep sound levels at 85dB for a maximum of 8 hours. However, several of the industries listed above tend to expose employees to louder levels of sound in the workplace which can result in permanent damage to hearing.

Even unassuming environments such as schools were found to have adverse effects on the hearing of teachers in kindergarten. The sound levels in an average school ranges from 40-105dB, and the higher the decibel, the more likelihood of sustaining hearing loss. Even people working in beauty parlors and hair salons can sustain hearing damage due to loud styling equipments such as hair dryers. Even employees at bars and night clubs can sustain hearing damage due to excessively loud levels of music that is constantly playing in the background.

Several industries are aware of the threats to hearing in their work environment. This is why many of the louder working environments provide their workers with personal protective gear to protect their hearing. Workers in louder working environments are advised to regularly wear their protective gear to obtain appropriate hearing protection.

Noisy workplaces do not have to be a dangerous place for your ears as long as you engage in precautionary protective measures. Buy your own personal pair of earplugs or earmuffs if you feel that you work in an excessively loud environment to make sure you protect your ears. Prevention as they say is always better than the cure!