Pedestrians walking by a construction site may be momentarily shaken by the noise generated from heavy equipment, but what about the construction workers themselves? For them, hearing hazards such as 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, says a new study by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).

To guide interventions and determine specific strategies for reducing potential harm, authors used audiograms – results from hearing tests – to identify sub-sectors within the construction industry with the highest percentages of noise-exposed workers with hearing loss (prevalences) 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 study provides the following key information:

• Sub-sectors with the highest prevalences of hearing loss: 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%), and Other Building Finishing Contractors (25%)
• Solutions and strategies for preventing hearing loss among these noise-exposed workers using the hierarchy of controls to reduce harmful exposures
• 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 – and 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, PhD, 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. 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 or 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. Wearing gloves, long sleeves, eye protection, respirators (when appropriate) and working in well-ventilated areas can also reduce or eliminate exposures to harmful chemicals.

Ultimately, understanding which Construction sub-sectors have a higher prevalence of noise-exposed workers with hearing loss and higher risks can help employers and workers target conservation efforts.