Pedestrians walking by a construction site may be momentarily shaken by the noise generated from heavy equipment, but what about construction workers?
Hazardous noise and chemicals that can damage hearing are frequent, and hearing loss is more common in noise-exposed construction workers compared to noise-exposed workers in all other industries, according to a new study by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
To guide interventions and determine specific strategies for reducing potential harm, the study’s authors used audiograms (results from hearing tests) to identify sub-sectors within the construction industry with the highest percentage of noise-exposed workers with hearing loss, and those sub-sectors where noise-exposed workers have higher risks for hearing loss.
The study, “Prevalence of Hearing Loss Among Noise-Exposed U.S. Workers Within the Construction Sector, 2010-2019,” was published in the Journal of Safety Research.
The research found the construction sub-sectors with the highest prevalence of hearing loss are:
- Highway, street, and bridge construction — 28 percent
- Site preparation contractors — 26 percent
- New, single-family housing construction (except operative builders) — 25 percent
- Oil and gas pipeline and related structures construction — 25 percent
- Other building finishing contractors — 25 percent
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In addition, the study provides:
- Solutions and strategies for preventing hearing loss among these noise-exposed workers using the hierarchy of controls (pictured above) to reduce harmful exposure
- A discussion of why workers often find it hard to use hearing protection — barriers that have to do with communication, comfort, convenience, safety climate, and cost
- Strategies for increasing the correct and consistent use of hearing protection
“Construction consistently rates among the top industries for the prevalence and risk of hearing loss — hearing loss that is severe enough that it affects workers’ daily lives,” said Elizabeth Masterson, Ph.D., 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 entirely preventable, the study said. Reducing noise exposure can include:
- Buying and selling quieter equipment
- Keeping moving parts oiled and well-maintained so they produce less noise
- Enclosing noise sources
- Establishing administrative controls, work practices, and policies that reduce the number of workers and the amount of time in noisy areas
Additionally, although personal protective equipment should not be solely relied upon when looking to reduce noise exposure, barriers to workers consistently and correctly wearing their hearing protection also need to be addressed, the study said. For instance, wearing gloves, long sleeves, eye protection, respirators (when appropriate), and working in well-ventilated areas can reduce or eliminate exposure to harmful chemicals.
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NIOSH is the federal institute that conducts research and makes recommendations for preventing work-related injuries, illnesses, and deaths.
For more information about occupational hearing loss, visit cdc.gov/niosh/noise/.
