Question
I've heard that noise exposure in the construction industry is different from that in other industries - why is that?
Answer
The dynamic nature of construction work, which features constantly changing job sites and a highly transient workforce, makes assessment of occupational noise exposure - and prevention of subsequent noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) - difficult in this industry.
In other industries, for example in manufacturing, there is generally a stable workforce, an unchanging work site, and distinct and predictable noise sources. Construction sites can change from hour to hour. In addition, in other industries such as manufacturing, you may find workers who spend several years or even their entire career in the same facility, while in construction some workers may be on one site for only a few hours. The construction work site is also very complex.
Noise exposure levels are often quite high among construction workers, and few if any trades in construction have no potential for overexposure to noise. NIHL is common in the industry, and use of hearing protectors - the traditional approach to exposure reduction in the industry - is generally low. Efforts to reduce noise and subsequent NIHL in the construction industry should focus on implementation of noise controls, improved worker training, and proper use of HPDs.
Industrial hygiene efforts in the construction industry really need to be tailored toward the specific needs of the construction industry. Other proven methods for other industries cannot be directly transferred to the construction industry. Although NIHL is a completely preventable occupational disease, without industry-specific efforts to reduce noise, the burden of NIHL in construction will remain high.
Rick Neitzel is a Research Scientist in the University of Washington (UW) Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences and a Certified Industrial Hygienist. He is also a Candidate in the Environmental and Occupational Hygiene PhD program at UW. He is President-Elect of the National Hearing Conservation Association, having previously served as Director of Communications and Treasurer, and sits on the Noise Committee of the American Industrial Hygiene Association. His research interests include quantitative and subjective exposure assessment in industrial and non-occupational settings, as well as development and evaluation of effective occupational health interventions.
This Ask the Expert was created from information presented in the course, Construction Noise: How Bad Is It and What Can Be Done About It? by Rick Neitzel, published on 6/19/08. The recorded course can be viewed here: audiologyonline.com/ceus/recordedcoursedetails.asp?class_id=11395.
