More than five million workers exposed to harmful noise levels

"Occupational exposure to noise has an impact on health. Below 80 decibels over 8 hours of work, the effects, which are reversible, are auditory (tinnitus, etc.) and extra-auditory (fatigue, cardiovascular problems, etc.). Above this level, the level is considered to be lesional, with potentially irreversible hearing damage (deafness).", explains the agency. For the first time, Public Health France is providing estimates of this exposure among all workers in France, whether salaried or not, for the period 2007-2019, therefore before the Covid era.

Key finding: In 2019, 20.51% of workers were exposed to a noise level of at least 70 decibels over an 8-hour workday (the equivalent of a working day): 13.21% to a hearing-fatigue level and 7.31% to a hearing-injury level. There was no "significant change" over the 2007-2019 period, according to the scientists.

Construction industry has the highest number of exposed workers

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In 2019, men accounted for nearly 801,000 workers exposed to noise levels that pose a health risk. Construction had the highest number of exposed workers (over 1.3 million), followed by transport, logistics, and tourism. The mechanical and metalworking sector had the highest proportion of workers exposed to noise (77.91).

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There are some limitations to this study, its authors note. For example, it does not allow for consideration of specific exposure situations related to a company, a work organization, or a workstation.

Hearing damage recognized as occupational diseases

The results could, however, help better target prevention, particularly, according to Public Health France. Hearing damage caused by injurious noise can already be recognized as occupational diseases.

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In 2022, 320 illnesses of this type were recognized in the general social security system, compared to 704 in 2016. "But this figure would be largely underestimated.", points out the health agency: 15,900 cases of deafness would not have been declared in 2022, according to the commission on the under-reporting of work accidents and occupational diseases.