Industrial Hygiene Testing Services

Cinnaminson, NJ, January 28^th, 2021

Last year, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) published a new research about the prevalence of occupational hearing loss among the noise-exposed services industry for sector workers. This part of the economy, which happens to be the largest employment sector of the U.S. industry, was found to have an elevated risk of hearing loss.

NIOSH researchers examined audiograms for 1.9 million noise-exposed workers across all industries, including audiograms for 158,436 service workers, and found the following:
 

• The prevalence of hearing loss within Services was 17%, very close to the prevalence of all industries combined (16%).
• However, many sub-sectors greatly exceeded the overall prevalence by large percentages (10-33% higher), and many had high risks for hearing loss.
• Workers in Administration of Urban Planning and Community and Rural Development had the highest prevalence (50%), and workers in Solid Waste Combustors and Incinerators had more than double the risk, the highest of any sub-sector.
• Some sub-sectors traditionally viewed as ‘low-risk’ also had higher than expected prevalences and/or risks, such as professional and technical services and schools. For example, Custom Computer Programming Services, and Elementary and Secondary Schools, had prevalences 35% and 26%, respectively.

“Occupational hearing loss is all too common, but there are ways to limit these risks,” said Joe Frasca, Senior Vice President, Marketing at EMSL Analytical, Inc. “A key component is first to identify the noise hazards. There are instruments designed to do just that and the information from these monitoring tools can be essential for all industry sectors to be able to implement strategies to eliminate or mitigate these risks. To assist in these efforts, EMSL proudly rents and has available for purchase, a wide range of noise dosimeters, sound meters and data logging instruments.”

EMSL has also sponsored an educational video about noise and occupational exposure risks that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/izMP7nM2APM.

To learn more about this or other industrial hygiene and environmental products and testing services, please visit www.EMSL.com, call (800) 220-3675 or email info@EMSL.com.


About EMSL Analytical, Inc.
EMSL Analytical is one of the leading testing laboratories with 46 locations throughout the United States and Canada. EMSL is a nationally recognized and locally focused provider specializing in fast laboratory results for mold, bacteria, Legionella, USP <797>, pathogens, asbestos, lead, soot, char & ash from fires, VOC’s, odors, radon, formaldehyde, indoor air quality, microbiology, environmental, industrial hygiene, radiological, food, beverage & consumer products and material testing services for the identification of unknown substances. EMSL services both professionals and the general public. EMSL maintains an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations as well as state and federal regulating bodies including, but not limited to A2LA, AIHA-LAP, LLC (AIHA-LAP, LLC EMLAP, AIHA-LAP, LLC IHLAP, AIHA-LAP, LLC ELLAP), NVLAP, CDC ELITE, CPSC, CA ELAP, NY ELAP, TX DOH, NJDEP and multiple other state accrediting agencies. Please visit our website at www.EMSL.com for a complete listing of accreditations. In addition, EMSL carries a wide range of Sampling Equipment and Investigative Products for environmental professionals.