Could you job have caused your hearing loss? Unfortunately, despite federal regulations regarding noise levels at the workplace and despite employers’ hearing safety measures, thousands of workers each year suffer from hearing loss and deafness because of their noisy jobs.

What are the most common jobs associated with high noise levels and hearing loss?

•    Airport ground maintenance workers. Those who work near loud plane engines everyday are exposed to noises that reach over 130 decibels – sounds loud enough to cause acoustic trauma and permanent hearing damage. Even when wearing ear protection, airplane ground workers can still suffer because of their job environment.
•    Construction workers. Almost all aspects of construction work can be dangerously loud, from moving materials to building structures to digging to demolishing. Unlike ground maintenance workers, construction workers aren’t provided with ear protection consistently.
•    Farmers. Those working in the agricultural industry are often working with heavy machinery and loud engines. Again, farmers do not often wear ear protection even in the loudest conditions.
•    Music industry workers. Sound engineers, state managers, musicians themselves, and even security workers can all suffer hearing loss from concerts and other musical events. Some rock concerts can be even louder than jet engines – and yet those who work at concerts are often only given earplugs.
•    Factory workers and industrial workers. Working around heavy machinery in a closed environment is even noisier than working with heavy machinery in the open. While many factories and plants provide their workers with ear protection, employees often still struggle with hearing loss.

If you have suffered partial or total hearing loss because of the noise level at your job, you could qualify for workers’ compensation benefits in Missouri and IllinoisS. Talk to a St. Louis workers’ comp attorney today about your occupational hearing loss or other work-related health issues today.