OCCUPATIONAL HEARING LOSS (OHL) SURVEILLANCE
Services (including Public Safety) Statistics
Noise Exposure and Hearing Protection1
- Approximately 6-45% of all workers in Services are exposed to hazardous noise, depending on sub-sector. Most sub-sectors have fewer than 13% exposed, except:
- Repair and Maintenance (45%)
- Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (22%)
- 22-56% of noise-exposed Services workers report not wearing hearing protection, depending on sub-sector. The sub-sectors with the most workers were:
- Educational Services (56%)
- Other Services (55%)
- Finance, Insurance and Real Estate (54%)
- Repair and Maintenance (43%)
Hearing Loss and Tinnitus
- Approximately 5-12% of all Services workers have hearing difficulty, depending on sub-sector.2
- About 6-10% of all Services workers have tinnitus, depending on sub-sector.2
- About 20% of noise-exposed tested Services workers have a material hearing impairment.3 Hearing impairment is hearing loss that impacts day-to-day activities.
- 13% of noise-exposed tested Services workers have hearing impairment in both ears.4
Trends Among Noise-Exposed Tested Services Workers (1981-2010)3
- The prevalence for Services decreased less than 1% over 30 years (1981-2010) as compared with a less than 1% reduction for all industries.
- The incidence for Services decreased 1% over 25 years (1986-2010) as compared with a 2% reduction for all industries.
- The adjusted risk for Services decreased 42% over 25 years (1986-2010) as compared with a 46% reduction for all industries.
Prevalence of Hearing Loss by Time Period and Industry Sector, 1981 – 2010, for 1,816,812 Workers
Adapted from Figure 1, Masterson et al. 2015
Adapted from Figure 1, Masterson et al. 2015
Incidence of Hearing Loss by Time Period and Industry Sector, 1986 – 2010, for 560,320 Workers
Adapted from Figure 2, Masterson et al. 2015
Adapted from Figure 2, Masterson et al. 2015
Risk of Incident Hearing Loss Compared to the 1986-1990 Time Period, by Industry Sector, for 560,320 Workers
Adapted from Figure 3, Masterson et al. 2015
Adapted from Figure 3, Masterson et al. 2015
Sources:
- Tak S, Davis RR, Calvert GM. (2009). Exposure to hazardous workplace noise and use of hearing protection devices among US workers — NHANES, 1999-2004. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 52(5):358-371.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Page last reviewed: June 6, 2017
- Page last updated: June 6, 2017
- Content source:
- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies