Noise and Occupational Hearing Loss

Construction Statistics

Noise Exposure and Hearing Protection

  • About 51% of all workers in Construction have been exposed to hazardous noise.1
  • 52% of noise-exposed Construction workers report not wearing hearing protection.2

Hearing Loss and Tinnitus

  • Approximately 14% of all Construction workers have hearing difficulty.1
  • About 7% of all Construction workers have tinnitus.3
  • About 25% of noise-exposed tested Construction workers have a material hearing impairment.4 Hearing impairment is hearing loss that impacts day-to-day activities.
  • 16% of noise-exposed tested Construction workers have hearing impairment in both ears.5

Trends in Hearing Loss Among Noise-Exposed Tested Construction Workers (1981-2010)4

  • The prevalence for Construction decreased 3% over 30 years (1981-2010) as compared with a less than 1% reduction for all industries.
  • The incidence for Construction decreased 3% over 25 years (1986-2010) as compared with a 2% reduction for all industries.
  • The adjusted risk for Construction decreased 50% over 25 years (1986-2010) as compared with a 46% reduction for all industries.

Sources:

  1. Kerns E, Masterson EA, Themann CL, Calvert GM. (2018). Cardiovascular conditions, hearing difficulty and occupational noise exposure within U.S. industries and occupations. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 61, 477-491.
  2. Green DR, Masterson EA, Themann CL. (in press). Prevalence of hearing protection device non-use among noise-exposed U.S. workers in 2007 and 2014. American Journal of Industrial Medicine.
  3. Masterson EA, Themann CL, Luckhaupt SE, Li J. & Calvert GM. (2016). Hearing difficulty and tinnitus among U.S. workers and non-workers in 2007. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 59, 290-300.
  4. Masterson EA, Deddens JA, Themann CL, Bertke S. & Calvert GM. (2015). Trends in worker hearing loss by industry sector, 1981-2010. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 58, 392-401.
  5. Masterson EA, Bushnell PT, Themann CL, & Morata TC. (2016). Hearing impairment among noise-exposed workers — United States, 2003–2012. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 65(15), 389-394.