A recent study published by the American Journal of Industrial Medicine is the first to examine hearing loss prevalence by industry within the Oil and Gas Extraction sector and most Mining sector industries. Researchers at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) found that within these industries, 25 to 30 percent of workers, almost 1 in 3, had hearing loss.
“This study highlights the large proportions of workers with hearing loss and identifies the industries within these sectors that are most affected,” said Elizabeth Masterson, Ph.D., epidemiologist, and co-author of the study. “Occupational hearing loss is entirely preventable and knowing which workers are at greatest risk can help better tailor strategies to protect their hearing.”
The study analyzed data from a wide array of individuals and sectors: 1.9 million noise-exposed workers across all industries, including 9,389 in Mining and 1,076 in Oil and Gas Extraction. Key findings include:
Mining Sector
Oil and Gas Extraction Sector
The study’s results indicate that noise exposure is the primary risk factor for occupational hearing loss. Almost two-thirds of all mining and oil and gas extraction workers have been exposed to hazardous noise on the job. NIOSH research suggests noise (as well as chemical) exposure could also contribute to other health issues including high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol.
Employers and workers can prevent and minimize the risk of occupational hearing loss despite these high numbers. NIOSH recommends removing or reducing noise at the source when possible. When the noise cannot be reduced to safe levels, implement an effective hearing conservation program. Preventative measures can include engineering controls (that have proven successful in reducing equipment noise in Mining), rotating workers out of loud areas and from noise tasks to decrease exposure time, and even using of earplugs in appropriate situations.
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