To Provide Proper Compensation for Hearing Impairments, the Labor Department Should Change Its Criteria

Millions of American workers have been exposed to occupational noise levels which may result in hearing impairment. Federal civilian employees are covered by the Federal Employees' Compensation Act which is administered by the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) in the Department of Labor. Between 1969 and 1976, about 36,000 claims for hearing impairment compensation were filed by federal civilian employees for a potential liability exceeding $185 million.