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

Incidence of Hearing Loss by Time Period and Industry Sector, 1986 – 2010, for 560,320 Workers


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

Sources:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.