Understanding Noise Exposure and Hearing Loss in the U.S. Upstream Oil and Gas Extraction Industry

Speaker: Bradley King, PhD, MPH, CIH
Organization: NIOSH
Job Title: Industrial Hygienist

This presentation provides an overview of what is known about noise exposures and the burden of hearing loss in the U.S. oil and gas extraction industry, as well as the potential exposure to ototoxic compounds. The talk also discusses a current NIOSH research study on noise exposure and ototoxicant assessment in this sector.

• Learning Objective 1: Describe the components and activities of the U.S. upstream oil and gas industry, along with relevant regulatory requirements related to occupational noise exposures that impact hearing health.
• Learning Objective 2: Describe the current state of knowledge regarding the burden of noise and ototoxic chemical exposures among workers in the U.S. oil and gas extraction industry, focusing on their implications for hearing loss.
• Learning Objective 3: Identify the aims and activities of the NIOSH research project "Noise Exposures and Hearing Loss in the Oil and Gas Extraction Sector," and discuss its relevance to audiology practice and research.

About Bradley

Bradley King has worked as an industrial hygienist at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) since 1999. He holds a PhD in Environmental Health Science from Johns Hopkins University and an MPH in Environmental/Occupational Health from Saint Louis University. He received his commission as an Environmental Health Officer in the U.S. Public Health Service in 2002, currently holding the rank of Captain (CAPT) and holds his certification in the comprehensive practice of industrial hygiene (CIH) since 2005. Since 2013, he’s worked in NIOSH’s Western States Division in Denver, CO; current research interests include evaluating occupational exposures in the upstream oil & gas industry.

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