7 Occupations That Cause Hearing Loss

Ongoing exposure to noise levels that exceed 85 dB is able to cause substantial hearing damage. OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) recommends that workers are not exposed to noise levels that exceed 85 dB for extended periods of time.

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There are several occupations in which the noise level that employees are subjected to surpass this level on a regular basis. Sensear has identified the following are 7 occupations that can damage hearing and tips to help minimize hearing loss:

1. Construction Worker: Construction workers are exposed to loud noises from a variety of sources. From nearby traffic to noisy equipment such as jackhammers, these workers can easily experience hearing loss. HearForever reported that a study regarding construction workers in the state of Washington found that the workers on the job were exposed 70 percent of the time to noise higher than 85dB.
2. Garbage Collector: The large trucks and heavy machinery that is used to lift and empty trash can create a large amount of noise. While the noise the average garbage collector is exposed to may not reach levels as high as other occupations, the workers are exposed to these levels of sound almost continually throughout the entire work day while the trucks they’re riding in are operating.
3. Musician: Many famous musicians are known to have experienced hearing loss. Whether an individual is on the stage or working behind the scenes, musicians are subjected to a high volume of noise. Working in nightclubs and other entertainment venues can also subject an individual to these high levels of noise. The Hearing Improvement Center has reported that musicians not only suffer from hearing loss but also experience tinnitus, which includes ringing in the ears.
4. Ambulance Driver: The sound provided from the siren on an ambulance produces noise at 130dB. A report released by the US National Library of Medicine stated that ambulance paramedics over the course of 14 years in the profession appeared to lose hearing acuity at higher rates than others in their peer group.
5. Landscaper: A variety of lawn mowing equipment is often used for hours at a time when working landscaping. An average lawn mower produces noise levels at about 90dB. While this isn’t much higher than the threshold of 85 dB, prolonged exposure to this level of noise can ultimately cause hearing loss. Those in the landscaping business often use equipment, such as chainsaws, that provide even higher levels of noise.
6. Air Traffic Controllers, Flight & Ground Crews: Sounds from jet engines provide some of the loudest noise that a person can be exposed to. An average jet engine produces noise at approximately 140dB. Even though they’re inside the plane, those who are working as part of the crew will experience up to 130 dB of noise during each take-off. Those on the ground can be exposed to even louder noise. Some jet planes will even hit noise levels as high as 190dB. Noise at this level can cause immediate hearing damage.
7. Manufacturing: Working near large and extremely loud machinery is a fact of life in the field of manufacturing. According to Audicus, hearing loss is the most common illness related to occupations in the manufacturing field. Some of the processes in manufacturing that produce loud sounds include glass bottling lines, cutting machinery, milling operations, and the noise produced from wheeled trolleys and racks.

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