Deaf Awareness Week (4–10 May 2026) is a timely reminder that hearing loss is one of the most common and most overlooked occupational health risks in construction. Around three in four construction workers are exposed to daily noise levels above 85 dB, yet protective measures often clash with other PPE such as hard hats, leaving workers vulnerable.
The Hidden Health Impact
Hearing damage can be temporary or permanent, but even temporary deafness after leaving a noisy environment is a warning sign. Repeated exposure gradually erodes hearing, often going unnoticed until age‑related loss compounds the damage.
Sudden, extremely loud noises – such as cartridge‑operated tools – can cause instant and irreversible harm. And hearing loss is only part of the story. Many workers develop tinnitus (ringing, buzzing or humming in the ears), a condition that can disrupt sleep and significantly affect quality of life.
The Psychological Toll
The impact of hearing loss and tinnitus can run much deeper – they affect people’s mental health. Workers with untreated hearing issues often withdraw from conversations, avoid group settings and experience increased anxiety, frustration and depression. Communication becomes harder, confidence drops and social isolation grows. Left unaddressed, this becomes a cycle that harms both wellbeing and workplace culture.
Why Workers Don’t Speak Up
According to the Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID), around 10 million adults could benefit from hearing aids, yet only 3 million use them. Many delay seeking help because they don’t want to appear “difficult”, “old” or “in the way”. In construction’s fast‑paced environment, this silence can be dangerous.
Your Legal Responsibilities
Under the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005, employers must assess and control noise risks.
Key thresholds:
- 80 dB – assess risks, provide information and training
- 85 dB – provide hearing protection and designate hearing protection zones
- 87 dB – absolute exposure limit (after accounting for PPE)
Employers must:
- Identify and reduce noise risks
- Provide suitable hearing protection where required
- Ensure PPE is used correctly
- Offer information, training and health surveillance
- Review controls whenever work or equipment changes
Noise control doesn’t always require major investment – but it does require consistent attention.
Call to Action
- Check Your Kit
FIS is supporting the British Safety Industry Federation (BSIF) campaign “Listen Today, Hear Tomorrow.” Key principles:
- Hearing protection is a last resort, but essential until noise risks are controlled
- Choose the right level of protection – more is not always better
- Ensure compatibility with other PPE and comfort for the user
- Stress the importance of wearing protection continuously in noisy areas
- Removing protection for just 5 minutes in an hour halves its effectiveness
For guidance on selecting the right PPE for hearing safety, click here.
- Get Your Hearing Checked – and Encourage Your Team
RNID offers free, accessible hearing checks. A hearing test takes just three minutes using the RNID online tool – a simple step that could prevent long‑term harm.
- Further Reading
This excellent resource gives employers a deeper understanding of occupational deafness and managing worker safety
[1] Construction Site Hearing Issues: How Noise Damages Workers’ Health & Prevention Tips – UK Construction Blog