Services

Burden

In the U.S., occupational hearing loss is one of the most common work-related illnesses. Twenty-four percent of the hearing difficulty among U.S. workers is attributable to occupational exposures [Tak and Calvert 2008; Themann et al. 2013]. Within the services sector, there are very large groups of workers with hazardous noise exposure. For instance, 45% are exposed in repair and maintenance (approximately 900,000 exposed workers); within arts, entertainment, and recreation 22% of workers are exposed (approximately 550,000 exposed workers); and approximately 13% are exposed within public administration (approximately 650,000 exposed workers) [Tak et al. 2009]. Twenty percent of noise-exposed services workers have a material hearing impairment in one or both ears (overall) [Masterson et al. 2015]. However, among some industry sub-sectors, 23-36% have impairment [Masterson et al. 2013]. Services workers lose 2.6 healthy years, each year, for every 1,000 noise-exposed workers [CDC 2016]. These lost healthy years are shared among the 13% of noise-exposed services workers with hearing impairment in both ears (about 130 workers out of each 1,000 workers). Over a 30-year working lifetime, about 78 healthy years are lost by 130 workers [CDC 2016].

Need

Effective interventions to prevent noise induced hearing loss in the services sector are multi-faceted. First, field studies are needed to evaluate feasibility and effectiveness of noise control solutions, as workplace noise is best controlled at the source. In particular, research is needed to promote and develop “Buy Quiet” approaches that address supply and demand for equipment often used in Services, in addition to developing databases of noise levels for tools and equipment [Beamer et al. 2016]. Second, best practices for hearing conservation programs in Services are needed that include effective use of hearing protectors, hearing protector fit-testing, and effective worker training on the dangers of noise exposure and preventing hearing loss [Byrne et al. 2017; Murphy et al. 2011]. Services sector workers are often from vulnerable populations which puts them at higher risk to occupational hazards, noise exposure among them. Moreover, services sector employers are often small business employers which often have fewer resources to devote to issues like occupational noise exposure.

Educational materials and guidelines for workers and employers are needed to inform them about steps that can be taken to reduce noise exposures and to protect their hearing, such as the proper way to insert foam ear plugs, “Buy Quiet” programs, ways to reduce vibration of equipment to possibly reduce noise, and use of administrative controls. Furthermore, educational materials should be tailored to specific Services audiences, taking into account barriers to implementing best practices. Contingent workers and their employers are an especially important audience as these workers are particularly vulnerable to workplace hazards and that there is sometimes a lack of clarity about who is responsible for their hearing protection programs.

Basic/etiologic and surveillance research are needed to better characterize noise exposures and hearing loss prevalence, especially among building services and arts and entertainment workers in the service sector. Additionally workplace noise exposures for targeted services sector tasks should be studied to characterize the noise dose, use/non-use of hearing protection, and assessment of hearing conservation programs.