By the Numbers – Hearing and Noise Prevention

DID YOU KNOW?

Occupational Hearing Loss (OHL)

• The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recommends that workers are not exposed to noise at a level that amounts to more than 85 decibels (dBA) over 8 continuous hours.
• NIOSH estimates that 30 million U.S. workers are exposed to noise levels high enough to cause irreversible hearing loss.
• According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 20,000 workplace hearing loss cases occur annually, many resulting in permanent hearing loss.
• An estimated 24% of hearing loss in the United States has been attributed to workplace exposure, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
• In the U.S., hearing loss is the third most common chronic physical condition among adults after hypertension and arthritis.
• About 12 % of the U.S working population has hearing difficulty.
• About 8% of the U.S working population has Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) and…