Noise exposure and hearing loss oversight on construction jobs is an important piece of any worksite safety plan, and yet it may be one of the more difficult issues to address.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 52% of noise-exposed construction workers report foregoing hearing protection despite about 23% of the industry’s employees also reporting a hearing impairment severe enough to impede understanding speech.1
For the more than 8.2 million construction workers across the country, particularly as they near retirement, years of noise exposure can impact quality of life.2 A person may not be able to watch TV without subtitles or may have difficulty communicating with their grandchildren. They may need specialized hearing devices or surgeries to address damage from hours of noise on the job. The sounds of jackhammers, air compressors and excavating equipment over time can even lead to health problems, including tinnitus (ringing in the ears), heart problems, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, cognitive decline and poor mental health. Oftentimes, this occupational hazard shows up only after many years, making it difficult to catch early and remediate.
“People are starting to wake up to the fact that hearing loss is a major hazard in construction,” explains Michael Mason, East Coast director of construction for Risk Engineering at The Hartford. “And still, we struggle with people out in the field not wearing earplugs when they should be. There's still that tough construction worker attitude that says ‘it's just loud for a couple of minutes. I'm not going to worry about it.’ And they don't.”
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and industry organizations include hearing prevention in many of the year-long workplace safety and health programs. They recommend that all worker exposures to noise should be controlled below a level equivalent to 85 dBA over eight hours to minimize occupational noise-induced hearing loss, as significant noise-induced hearing loss still occurs at the permissible exposure levels.3
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 52% of noise-exposed construction workers report foregoing hearing protection despite about 23% of the industry’s employees also reporting a hearing impairment severe enough to impede understanding speech.1
For the more than 8.2 million construction workers across the country, particularly as they near retirement, years of noise exposure can impact quality of life.2 A person may not be able to watch TV without subtitles or may have difficulty communicating with their grandchildren. They may need specialized hearing devices or surgeries to address damage from hours of noise on the job. The sounds of jackhammers, air compressors and excavating equipment over time can even lead to health problems, including tinnitus (ringing in the ears), heart problems, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, cognitive decline and poor mental health. Oftentimes, this occupational hazard shows up only after many years, making it difficult to catch early and remediate.
“People are starting to wake up to the fact that hearing loss is a major hazard in construction,” explains Michael Mason, East Coast director of construction for Risk Engineering at The Hartford. “And still, we struggle with people out in the field not wearing earplugs when they should be. There's still that tough construction worker attitude that says ‘it's just loud for a couple of minutes. I'm not going to worry about it.’ And they don't.”
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and industry organizations include hearing prevention in many of the year-long workplace safety and health programs. They recommend that all worker exposures to noise should be controlled below a level equivalent to 85 dBA over eight hours to minimize occupational noise-induced hearing loss, as significant noise-induced hearing loss still occurs at the permissible exposure levels.3
Examples of Noise Levels4
| 40 dBA | 60 dBA | 90 dBA | 90-120 dBA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quiet library | Normal Conversation | Lawnmower | Power Tools |
The Cost of Noise Exposure in Construction
Ignoring the dangers of noise exposure affects several aspects of any construction job, including:
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Workers’ Compensation Claims: NIOSH estimates U.S. employers spend about $242 million annually for occupational hearing loss claims.5
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Citations and Fines: Monetary damages for serious or willful violations of hearing safety can range from $16,500 to $165,000.6
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Productivity: Hearing loss can make work tasks more difficult, for instance when using communication devices or working with a team in a loud space. The struggle to adapt may lead to more fatigue and cognitive strain, necessitating days off work.
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Jobsite Accidents: Hearing loss can compromise workplace safety for an entire team if an employee is unable to understand instructions or detect auditory safety warnings.
Three Important Best Practices for Hearing Loss Prevention
A proactive contractor will perform worksite inspections to ensure that effective engineering and administrative controls are established to minimize employee noise exposures. Contractors are responsible for following best practices no matter the size of the job or level of sophistication. This goes beyond handing out earplugs and walking away.
Some important recommendations include:
1. Hearing Assessments
New employees should have a hearing assessment as part of any employment-required physical examination. This establishes a baseline, which may prove useful if an employee does file a disability insurance claim in the future. Annual hearing tests will also help monitor changes over time, as well as alert supervisors to any trends or patterns needing attention.
2. Hearing Safety Programs
OSHA 1910.95 regulations require a hearing conservation program for employees exposed to more than 85 dBA over an eight-hour average. A compliant program includes monitoring, audiometric testing, hearing protectors for employees, training programs and record-keeping. Non-compliance may result in citations and fines.7
3. Education and Enforcement
Management commitment and employee compliance is a strong indicator of success in a hearing conservation program. Regularly scheduled trainings and reminders keep the importance of hearing loss prevention top of mind. Supervisors can reinforce and normalize wearing protective equipment as well as rotate workers around noise levels to limit exposure.
Depending on the length of a shift and on the decibel amount, there's a Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) calculation that employers need to follow to ensure their employees are wearing the right hearing protection. This standardized measurement quantifies the effectiveness of hearing protection devices, such as earplugs and earmuffs, indicating how much noise a device can block out.
“That's a big issue too,” says Mason. “Are employees wearing the correct hearing protection? There's plenty of operations out there where not only should an employee be wearing properly fitted earplugs but should have a headset on top of that.”
Hearing Loss Prevention Is a Team Goal
OSHA training and regulatory standards have been shown to reduce risk across many industries, but particularly in construction.
Strong worksite safety starts with risk management strategies tailored to each project and crew. By promoting proactive practices and compliance across construction operations, companies can build a culture of teamwork and accountability that helps keep workers safe and healthy on the jobsite.
For more information about The Hartford’s risk engineering services, as well as toolkit talks that help address hearing loss prevention, consult our risk mitigation resources and visit our construction page.
1 United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Construction Statistics,” viewed July 2026.
2 The Home Builders Institute, “Construction Labor Market Report 2024,” viewed July 2026.
5 United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Businesses Spend $242 Million Annually on Workers’ Compensation Due to Hearing Loss,” viewed July 2026.
6 Occupational Safety and Health Administration, “OSHA Penalties,” viewed July 2026.
7 Hearing Conservation Program, “OSHA Hearing Conservation Program | Plain-English Guide to 29 CFR 1910.95,” viewed July 2026.
