NOISE AND HEARING LOSS PREVENTION

NIOSH recommends that all worker exposures to noise should be controlled below a level equivalent to 85 dBA for eight hours to minimize occupational noise induced hearing loss. NIOSH also recommends a 3 dBA exchange rate so that every increase by 3 dBA doubles the amount of the noise and halves the recommended amount of exposure time.

Facts and Statistics

Four million workers go to work each day in damaging noise. Ten million people in the U.S. have a noise-related hearing loss. Twenty-two million workers are exposed to potentially damaging noise each year.
In 2008, approximately 2 million U.S. workers were exposed to noise levels at work that put them at risk of hearing loss.
In 2007, approximately 23,000 cases were reported of occupational hearing loss that was great enough to cause hearing impairment.
Reported cases of hearing loss accounted for 14% of occupational illness in 2007.
In 2007, approximately 82% of the cases involving oc¬cupational hearing loss were reported among workers in the manufacturing sector.

Fact Sheets

Fact Sheet: Work Related Hearing Loss
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2001-103
Information on the magnitude and cost of work-related hearing loss.

Occupationally-Induced Hearing Loss
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2010-136
Statistics on hearing loss in the manufacturing industry.

Surveys

National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)
A program of studies designed to assess the health and nutritional status of adults and children in the United States.

Noise Induced Hearing Loss - Attitudes and Behaviors of U.S. Adults
Healthstyles is a comprehensive annual survey conducted by Porter/Novelli, Inc. of the health-related beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors of American adults.

NIOSH Occupational Noise and Hearing Survey
Provides data from the 1968 - 1972 NIOSH Occupational Noise and Hearing Survey (ONHS): Evaluation of the Risk of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss in Male Industrial Workers.

Current Data Collection, Instruments and Methods
Listing of current NIOSH research projects related to noise and hearing loss.