NOISE AND HEARING LOSS PREVENTION

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  Hearing loss is still common among workers in noisy jobs - October is National Protect Your Hearing Month

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  Tips for Preventing Occupational Hearing Loss

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  CDC Public Health Grand Rounds, Now Available for Continuing Education for Audiologists"It’s Loud Out There: Hearing Health across the Lifespan"

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  NIOSH Sound Level Meter App

Occupational hearing loss is one of the most common work-related illnesses in the United States. Each year, about 22 million U.S. workers are exposed to hazardous noise levels at work. Over 30 million U.S. workers are exposed to chemicals, some of which are harmful to the ear (ototoxic) and hazardous to hearing. In addition to damaging workers’ quality of life, occupational hearing loss carries a high economic price to society.

NIOSH Recommendations:

• The NIOSH Recommended Exposure Limit (REL) for occupational noise exposure is 85 decibels, A-weighted, as an 8-hour time-weighted average (85 dBA as an 8-hr TWA) using a 3-dB exchange rate. Exposures at or above this level are considered hazardous.
• Use the NIOSH Hierarchy of Controls to reduce workplace noise to below the NIOSH REL whenever possible. Use hearing protection when hazardous noise levels cannot be adequately reduced.

Read and comment on our noise and hearing loss science blogs.

Safe-in-Sound Excellence in Hearing Loss Prevention Awards.