When you think about the types of California jobs that are most likely to cause workers injuries, you may think about those held by construction workers, miners and loggers, among others. It may surprise you to know, however, the single-most common work-related injury in America is hearing loss, which can affect workers across these as well as numerous other industries. At Kampf, Schiavone & Associates, we recognize the prevalence of work-related hearing loss, and we have helped many clients who lost hearing because of factors relating to their work environments pursue solutions that fit their needs.
According to USA Today, more than 22 million Americans undergo exposure to dangerous levels of noise while at work every year. While those in the construction, mining and manufacturing fields are among those most likely to experience high levels of on-the-job noise, many workers across multiple other industries also undergo exposure. Additionally, those who are most at risk for work-related hearing loss may surprise you.
While it may seem plausible that those in the loudest work environments face the highest risk of work-related hearing loss, studies show that this is not, in fact the case. Instead, it is employees who work in areas where noise levels are moderate, rather than extreme, who run the greatest risk of suffering employment-related hearing loss, and here is why.
In unquestionably loud work environments, employees are better about donning ear protection and otherwise making efforts to protect themselves. In environments where the risks are not so obvious, workers may be less likely to take preventative measures, such as wearing headphones, to protect their ears. You can find more about workplace injuries on our webpage.
