Cincinnati — Utility employees have the very best prevalence of hearing loss amongst noise-exposed employees in all industries, outcomes of a latest NIOSH study present.
Researchers examined greater than 1.3 million hearing exams from noise-exposed employees at organizations that took half in the NIOSH Occupational Hearing Loss Surveillance Program from 2010 to 2019. The pattern included practically 14,000 utility employees. Of them, 25% had hearing loss – increased than all different industries mixed (20%). The subsectors with the very best prevalence of hearing loss have been hydroelectric energy technology (37%) and steam and air-conditioning provide (29%).
“While often overlooked, noise-exposed workers in this sector have among the highest prevalences of hearing loss and significantly higher risks,” the study summary states. “Increased attention and better hearing conservation strategies are needed.”
The study was revealed in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.