Buy Quiet

Implementing a Buy Quiet program can reduce the risk of noise-induced hearing loss, increase worksite awareness, lower impact on community noise and decrease equipment costs over the long-run.


Risks Addressed:

Noise-induced hearing loss remains a serious health concern in the U.S. because it affects workers in a wide range of sectors, such as construction, mining, manufacturing, and many others.  Exposure to excessive hazardous noise can lead to permanent hearing loss[1].  Each year, more than 22 million U.S. workers are exposed to hazardous noise (>85 dBA)[2]. Annually, businesses spend more than 200 million dollars in compensating workers with hearing loss. [3]Overall, the risk of noise-induced hearing loss increases when workers fail to wear hearing protection devices.  Several reasons for this failure include that workers report discomfort, hindered communication and reduced situational awareness when wearing hearing protection[4].  Additionally workers may not be fully aware of the negative effects of hazardous noise.

Within the U.S. Construction Sector, 44% of construction workers are frequently exposed to hazardous noise and about 31% of noise-exposed construction workers report not wearing hearing protection[5].  Overall, thirteen percent of all construction workers have hearing difficulty and 7% have tinnitus[6].  However, among noise-exposed construction workers, twenty-five percent have a material hearing impairment in at least one ear[7] and 16% have hearing impairment in both ears[8].  Moreover, between 2001 and 2010, 21% of construction workers incurred at least one significant hearing threshold shift[9].



[2] Masterson EA, Bushnell PT, Themann CL, Morata TC. Hearing Impairment Among Noise-Exposed Workers — United States, 2003–2012. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2016;65:389–394. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6515a2.  

[3] Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Occupational Noise Exposure. [Online]. Available: https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/noisehearingconservation/. [Accessed 26 October 2017]

[4] Tak S, Davis RR, Calvert GM. Exposure to hazardous workplace noise and use of hearing protection devices among US workers--NHANES, 1999-2004. Am J Ind Med. 2009 May;52(5):358-71. doi: 10.1002/ajim.20690. PubMed PMID: 19267354.

[5] Tak S, Davis RR, Calvert GM. Exposure to hazardous workplace noise and use of hearing protection devices among US workers--NHANES, 1999-2004. Am J Ind Med. 2009 May;52(5):358-71. doi: 10.1002/ajim.20690. PubMed PMID: 19267354.

[6] Masterson EA, Bushnell PT, Themann CL, Morata TC. Hearing Impairment Among Noise-Exposed Workers — United States, 2003–2012. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2016;65:389–394. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6515a2.

[7] Masterson EA, Deddens JA, Themann CL, Bertke S, Calvert GM. Trends in Worker Hearing Loss by Industry Sector, 1981–2010. American journal of industrial medicine. 2015;58(4):392-401. doi:10.1002/ajim.22429.

[8] Masterson EA, Bushnell PT, Themann CL, Morata TC. Hearing Impairment Among Noise-Exposed Workers — United States, 2003–2012. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2016;65:389–394. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6515a2.

[9] Masterson EA, Sweeney MH, Deddens JA, Themann CL, Wall DK. Prevalence of Workers with Shifts in Hearing by Industry: A Comparison of OSHA and NIOSH Hearing Shift Criteria. Journal of occupational and environmental medicine / American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. 2014;56(4):446-455. doi:10.1097/JOM.0000000000000124.


How Risks are Reduced:

NIOSH’s “Hearing Loss Prevention Program” aims to reduce the prevalence of occupational hearing loss by raising awareness of best practices for the prevention of occupational hearing loss.  One key element of a successful program stresses the importance of buying quieter equipment. The NIOSH Buy Quiet Program plays a significant role in reducing noise hazards and protecting workers from dangerous noise levels. It must be noted that implementation of a Buy Quiet Program does not negate other requirements and best practices for protecting workers from noise, including providing adequate hearing protection and training in its proper use.

Availability

NIOSH Buy Quiet Information
To obtain information, visit overview and posters and infographics

NIOSH Workplace Solutions Sheet
The National Institute of Safety and Health (NIOSH) has published a series of “Workplace Solutions”, which are easy-to-understand recommendations from NIOSH research results. Related to this Construction Solution, please find more information on: Preventing Hazardous Noise and Hearing Loss During Project Design and Operation and Supporting Prevention through Design (PtD) Using Business Value Concepts