Predicting Onset of Hearing Loss for Auto Workers

Aug. 26, 2002
The most consistent predictor of hearing loss for workers at an automobile assembly plant is the percentage of time workers used hearing protection during their employment at the facility.

Noise-induced hearing loss is one of the 10 leading occupational diseases, and it affects as many as 10 million employees who work in noise above 85 dBA. A new study, "Changes Over Time in Audiometric Thresholds in a Group of Automobile Stamping and Assembly Workers With a Hearing Conservation Program" by LuAnn L. Brink et. al., used noise and hearing use measurements taken at the automobile assembly plant to construct average lifetime noise exposure and hearing protection compliance estimates. Published in the July/August 2002 American Industrial Hygiene Association's AIHA Journal, these estimates were then used to develop models predicting the workers' total hearing loss and onset of two accepted definitions of hearing loss.

"Hearing loss was proportional to lifetime average noise exposure estimates," wrote researchers, and "the use of hearing protection is inversely proportional to hearing loss, as expected."

They note that younger workers wore hearing protection "significantly" more often than older workers, adding, "A study of these protected workers will be needed to determine the effectiveness of hearing protection when used during the entirety of a worker's tenure."

Other than the percentage of time spent wearing hearing protection, other variables associated with hearing loss included lifetime average noise exposure, male gender, having transferred into the plant, older age and longer tenure at the facility.

About the Author

Sandy Smith

Sandy Smith is the former content director of EHS Today, and is currently the EHSQ content & community lead at Intelex Technologies Inc. She has written about occupational safety and health and environmental issues since 1990.

Sponsored Recommendations

June 23, 2025
Learn about lone working laws in the US, key hazards and risks, and get actionable advice on how to keep your lone workers safe.
June 23, 2025
Chemical substitution can quickly get messy, with unclear steps and the risk of swapping one hazard for another. This checklist helps you avoid costly mistakes, prioritize which...
June 23, 2025
A mature approach to health and safety means making safety a core part of your culture, where everyone plays a role and performance is measured by more than just numbers. In this...
June 23, 2025
Behavior-based safety focuses on observing and encouraging safe behaviors to reduce workplace risks. Experts explain how strong safety culture, clear methods, and digital tools...

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of EHS Today, create an account today!