Everyone knows that construction sites are noisy; it’s why we’ve previously included construction workers in our list of individuals with the highest occupational noise exposure. Now, a new study by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) reveals that construction workers may face higher risk of hearing loss than workers in all other industries. 

The study, titled “Prevalence of Hearing Loss among Noise-Exposed U.S. Workers within the Construction Sector, 2010-2019”, was published in the Journal of Safety Research and will be included in the February 2025 issue. Researchers examined audiogram data for 26,653 workers at 833 construction companies, as well as from other industries. They compared period prevalence and adjusted risk of hearing loss to determine construction sub-sectors with the highest risk. 

Overall, the study found a hearing loss prevalence of 23% among construction workers compared to 20% for all industries combined. Sub-sectors with the highest prevalences were Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction (28%), Site Preparation Contractors (26%), New Single-Family Housing Construction (except Operative Builders) (25%), Oil and Gas Pipeline and Related Structures Construction (25%), and Other Building Finishing Contractors (25%). 

Managing noise exposure and hearing loss are critical health concerns. From cognitive health, to tinnitus, to even cardiovascular health, hearing health is a huge component of overall wellbeing. There are a variety of things individuals can do to protect their hearing health, including using hearing protection like earplugs, or post-exposure care like ReBound. But it is also critical that industries and companies follow health and safety requirements from OSHA, and that these requirements take into account the unique needs of various industries.