In the United States, hearing loss is the third-most common chronic physical condition among adults. On average, about 22 million workers are exposed to hazardous noise levels at work. About 12% of American workers have difficulty hearing, with about 24% of that hearing difficulty being caused by occupational exposures. To highlight the importance of hearing conservation the National Safety Council has partnered with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to name October, “National Protect Your Hearing Month.”

Here are some facts to remind us all why hearing loss prevention is important:

• Almost all work-related hearing loss is permanent.
• As hearing loss worsens, understanding others becomes increasingly difficult which can lead to isolation.
• Hearing loss is strongly associated with depression.
• Hearing loss is associated with cognitive decline and heart problems, such as high blood pressure and heart disease.

OSHA sets legal limits on noise exposure in the workplace. These limits are based on a worker’s time-weighted average over an 8-hour day. With noise, OSHA’s permissible exposure limit (PEL) is 90 A-weighted decibels (dBA) for all workers for an 8-hour day. However, their action level is 85 dBA for an 8-hour day, which means any area that is above 85 dBA will have to be placed into a hearing conservation program. These programs include periodic audiometric testing, follow-ups to those tests, training/information on noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), and access to hearing protection. However, please remember that personal hearing protection starts with you. You are ultimately responsible for protecting your own hearing. 

Here are a few tips in terms of hearing protection to be mindful of inside and outside of work:

• Wear earplugs during loud activities (concerts, shooting firearms, watching fireworks, etc.)
• Wear earplugs when using power tools or other loud equipment
• Make sure your earplugs fit correctly and you’re wearing them properly
• Have annual hearing tests
• Keep your hearing protection in good condition and obtain new ones as needed

Learn more about Hearing Loss Prevention or Hearing Conservation Programs:

• https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/noise/default.html
• https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/noisehearingconservation/