One in Five Male Workers Exposed to Unsafe Noise Levels

Around one in five male workers in Australia experienced noise above the recommended occupational limit on their most recent working day, according to new Curtin University research.

Researchers surveyed 5000 Australian workers to understand how many were being exposed to workplace noise and chemicals that could damage their hearing, including some solvents, metals and gases.

Lead author and audiologist, Kate Lewkowski, said hearing loss affected more than half a billion people worldwide and continued to be a leading cause of disability in Australia. She also said hearing loss significantly reduced a person’s quality of life and often lead to “social isolation and poor mental health.”

“We interviewed 5000 workers and found that men were more likely to be exposed to excessive noise and workplace ototoxic chemicals compared to women. This finding is likely due to the gender employment patterns in industries such as construction.

“The findings also show that four out of five workers who exceeded the full noise exposure limit were also likely to be exposed to at least one ototoxic chemical in the workplace. This is an important finding as it demonstrates that most of those who work in hazardous noise environments may have an additional risk of hearing loss due to exposure to these chemicals.”

The research also found that younger men who had trade qualifications and worked outside a major city were at higher risk of being exposed to excessive noise levels at work.

Co-author Lin Fritschi said that despite current regulations in place to reduce workplace noise, high levels of noise continued to exist in many Australian workplaces.

“Our findings have important implications for the Australian workforce and immediate action is needed to reduce the future burden of hearing loss.”

“It is critical for strategies to be developed to reduce workplace noise and chemical exposure, especially in industries like construction where high levels of exposure currently exists.”

The research paper was published in Occupational and Environment Medicine Journal, and can be found online here.