What industries are most associated with occupational hearing loss, specifically for Fellows of the Royal College of Surgeons (FRCS)?

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From the Guidelines

Industries most associated with hearing loss include the mining and wood products industry, building and real estate construction, and the agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting sectors, with approximately 27%, 23.5%, and 15% risk of hearing damage due to noise exposure, respectively. These sectors expose workers to high levels of noise from machinery, equipment, and vehicles that can cause noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) when sound levels exceed 85 decibels over prolonged periods, as reported in a study published in the International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 1.

Key Industries at Risk

  • Mining and wood products industry: 27% risk of hearing damage due to noise exposure
  • Building and real estate construction: 23.5% risk of hearing damage due to noise exposure
  • Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting sectors: 15% risk of hearing damage due to noise exposure

Prevention and Early Detection

Prevention requires comprehensive hearing conservation programs including engineering controls to reduce noise at the source, administrative controls to limit exposure time, and personal protective equipment such as earplugs or earmuffs, as suggested by the study 1. Regular audiometric testing is essential for early detection of hearing changes in workers in these high-risk industries.

Additional High-Risk Groups

Other groups at risk of hearing loss include military personnel, who experience significant noise exposure from weapons, aircraft, and vehicles, as well as entertainment and music industry employees, who are exposed to loud music and other sounds, as mentioned in the study 1.

From the Research

Industries Associated with Hearing Loss

The industries most associated with hearing loss are:

  • Mining: The mining sector had the highest prevalence of workers with any hearing impairment, and with moderate or worse impairment 2
  • Construction: The construction sector had a high prevalence of hearing loss, with several sub-sectors exceeding the overall prevalence 3
  • Manufacturing: Workers in the manufacturing sector, particularly in Wood Product Manufacturing, had higher risks for hearing loss 4
  • Oil and Gas Extraction: The Oil and Gas Extraction sector had a prevalence of hearing loss of 14%, with some sub-sectors having higher prevalences 5

Prevalence of Hearing Loss by Industry

The prevalence of hearing loss varies by industry, with:

  • Mining: 24% 5
  • Construction: 23% 3
  • Manufacturing: 18% of workers had hearing loss, with higher risks in certain sub-sectors 4
  • Oil and Gas Extraction: 14% 5
  • Healthcare and Social Assistance: consistently high prevalence of hearing loss 6

Sub-Sectors with High Prevalences of Hearing Loss

Several sub-sectors have high prevalences of hearing loss, including:

  • Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction: 28% 3
  • Site Preparation Contractors: 26% 3
  • New Single-Family Housing Construction: 25% 3
  • Oil and Gas Pipeline and Related Structures Construction: 25% 3
  • Construction Sand and Gravel Mining: 36% 5
  • Natural Gas Liquid Extraction: 28% 5

References

1
Guideline

Guideline Directed Topic Overview

Dr.Oracle Medical Advisory Board & Editors, 2025

2
Research

Hearing Impairment Among Noise-Exposed Workers - United States, 2003-2012.

MMWR. Morbidity and mortality weekly report, 2016

4
Research

Prevalence of hearing loss in the United States by industry.

American journal of industrial medicine, 2013

6
Research

Trends in worker hearing loss by industry sector, 1981-2010.

American journal of industrial medicine, 2015

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Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

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