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Noise at work: Intensity levels in construction and extraction and food service occupations in 2016
September 28, 2017
Workers in 75.0 percent of civilian jobs were exposed to moderate noise levels at work in 2016. Another 13.3 percent were exposed to loud noise levels and 0.7 percent to very loud levels. Workers in construction and extraction occupations were mostly exposed to loud work (49.6 percent of jobs) or very loud work (7.9 percent). More than 7 in 10 carpenters and operating engineers and other construction equipment operators were exposed to loud work environments in 2016.
Percentage of jobs in selected construction and extraction occupations with moderate and loud noise exposure, 2016
Occupation
Moderate
Loud
Very loud
Construction and extraction occupations
42.1%
49.6%
7.9%
First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
33.3
53.9
—
Carpenters
—
71.1
—
Construction laborers
31.7
59.0
—
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
—
72.8
—
Electricians
38.9
47.8
—
Dash indicates no jobs in this category or data did not meet publication criteria.
In food preparation and serving related occupations, 16.5 percent of jobs were exposed to loud work environments, and 82.1 percent were exposed to moderate noise during a typical work day. Bartending jobs were about evenly split between workers exposed to a loud work environment (44.7 percent) or a moderate noise environment (46.7 percent) in 2016.
Percentage of jobs in selected food preparation and serving related occupations with moderate and loud noise exposure, 2016
Occupation
Moderate
Loud
Food preparation and serving related occupations
82.1%
16.5%
Cooks, institution and cafeteria
81.0
18.0
Cooks, restaurant
77.4
21.3
Bartenders
46.7
44.7
Combined food preparation and serving workers, including fast food
89.7
10.2
Waiters and waitresses
81.9
17.7
These data are from the Occupational Requirements Survey. To learn more, see "Occupational Requirements in the United States — 2016" (HTML) (PDF). Civilian jobs are wage and salary jobs in private industry or state and local government.
United States Department of Labor
