The Costs
More than 22 million workers are exposed to potentially damaging noise at work each year.
U.S. business pays more than $1.5 million in penalties each year for not protecting workers from noise.
While it's impossible to put a number to the human toll of hearing loss, an estimated $242 million is spent annually on workers' compensation for hearing loss disability. Compensation payments may reach $27,000 and more. The cost of paying out workers' compensation claims far outweighs the relatively minor costs associated with developing engineering, administrative, and personal protective equipment.
Workers' compensation data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is likely an underestimate of the actual frequency of occupational illness, representing only the tip of the iceberg.
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5-2. How many workers are exposed to potentially damaging noise in the workplace?
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