While it’s well-known that work-related hearing loss usually is caused by noise, what isn’t nearly as widely-recognized is that ongoing exposure to some widely used chemicals increases the risk of hearing loss, particularly in noisy workplaces.

Noise is aggravating, whether at home, in a restaurant or on a loud street. But in the workplace, excessive noise is more than aggravating: It cuts productivity while creating serious health hazards for workers, which might lead to costly fines and workers’ compensation claims.