NIOSH Study Identifies Risk of Hearing Loss Among Construction Workers
NIOSH identifies construction sub-sectors with the highest hearing loss risks and offers targeted prevention strategies.
- By Robert Yaniz Jr.
- Dec 12, 2024
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has reported on the risk of hearing loss among construction workers exposed to hazardous noise levels.
According to a recent release, the study—published in the Journal of Safety Research—analyzed hearing test data from 2010 to 2019 to identify industry sub-sectors with the highest prevalence of hearing loss and elevated risks for noise-exposed workers.
Workers in highway, street and bridge construction experience the highest prevalence of hearing loss at 28 percent, followed closely by those in site preparation contracting (26 percent), new single-family housing construction (25 percent), oil and gas pipeline construction (25 percent), and other building finishing contracting (25 percent).
"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," Elizabeth Masterson, PhD, the study’s research epidemiologist and lead author, said in a statement. "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."
The study not only provides updated statistics but also suggests practical strategies for prevention. Among these are engineering controls, such as using quieter equipment, maintaining machinery to minimize noise and isolating noise sources. Administrative controls, like limiting worker exposure to noisy environments, are also recommended.
However, the report acknowledges challenges in ensuring the consistent use of PPE. Workers often face barriers related to comfort, communication, convenience and cost, which complicate hearing protection. The study suggests addressing these barriers to increase PPE compliance while reducing workers’ exposure to harmful chemicals.
The full report, titled “Prevalence of hearing loss among noise-exposed U.S. workers within the Construction sector, 2010–2019,” is available to read online.
About the Author
Robert Yaniz Jr. is the Content Editor of Occupational Health & Safety.