The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates about 22 million employees work in environments with harmful noise levels. As noted by the Cleveland Clinic, jobs with constant loud sounds may leave an individual with permanent hearing loss.
Devastating ear injuries from a single exposure may end lucrative careers. If a work environment produces an extremely loud or intense sound just once, employees may risk severe ear damage. An individual may need to see a physician to adjust to the changes in hearing.
How may a toxic work environment cause hearing loss?
Repeated on-the-job sound exposure in harmful work environments may cause permanent damage over time. As noted by HealthyHearing.com, noise-induced hearing loss often occurs with employees in construction, manufacturing and extraction.
The harm from prolonged loud noise could result in nerve damage to the inner ear known as sensorineural hearing loss. Symptoms include ringing in the ears and dizziness. The CDC notes that exposure to ototoxic chemicals such as solvents may also cause permanent ear damage.
Which jobs may end as a result of permanent ear damage?
Full-time employees exposed to noise measuring at least 85 decibels face a risk of permanent hearing loss. Factory and construction workers often fall into this category. Work involving musicians or rock concerts brings a risk of harmful exposure to sound levels between 105 and 110 decibels.
Researchers discovered nearly 75% of farmers lose their hearing because of loud tractors. Dentists exposed to the sound of loud dental drills may lose their ability to hear. Teachers and other individuals working at schools with young children expose themselves to loud high-pitched sounds.
Workers’ compensation benefits could provide relief for medical expenses, hearing aids and time away from work. If an employer’s negligence caused a permanent injury, legal action may recover compensation for the unexpected disruption to a valuable career.
