Measurement and evaluation of personal attenuation rating before and after the training of the noise-exposed workers wearing foam earplugs
10.3760/cma.j.cn121094-20230817-00033
- VernacularTitle:噪声作业工人佩戴泡棉型耳塞培训前后个人声衰减值的测量与评价
- Author:
Jing LIU
1
;
Xian WANG
;
Rong ZHANG
;
Youhong BAO
;
Kaifeng GU
;
Liping PAN
Author Information
1. 南京市职业病防治院职业健康科，南京 210042
- Keywords:
Noise;
Hearing protection device (HPD);
Personal attenuation rating (PAR);
Fit testing;
Noise protection effect
- From:
Chinese Journal of Industrial Hygiene and Occupational Diseases
2024;42(8):589-593
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To measure and compare the difference of personal attenuation rating (PAR) of the workers wearing foam earplugs before and after the training, and to evaluate the effect of ear protector wearing training on the noise protection.Methods:In February 2023, 94 workers exposed to noise in a machinery manufacturing factory were selected as subjects. The production noise in the workplace was measured and subjects were trained to wear earplugs. The PAR values of wearing 3M 1110 foam test earplugs were measured and recorded before and after the training by using the fit testing of hearing protection device. The differences between the actual PAR values with nominal values and the noise attenuation values in related standards were compared, and the protective effect of hearing protection device before and after training was evaluated.Results:The average age of the subjects was (36.76±11.48) years old, the average length of service was (16.34±11.64) years, and the average exposure time to noise was (15.67±11.64) years. The noise detection results of the subjects' posts were ranged from 80.1 to 94.3 dB (A). The results of subjects wore 3M 1110 foam test earplugs for fit testing showed that the binaural PAR value after training was (19.3±6.4) dB (A), which was significantly higher than that before training (11.1±7.4) dB (A) ( t=13.31, P<0.001). After training, 11 people (11.70%) could reach the corrected noise reduction value (NRR value), 26 people (27.66%) could reach the standard of single noise reduction value (SNR value) ×0.6, and 84 people (89.36%) could reach the standard of (NRR-7) /2. The under protection rate of hearing protectors after training (7.45%) was significantly lower than that before training (45.74%), and the difference of different protection levels before and after training was statistically significant (χ 2=40.83, P<0.001) . Conclusion:It is suggested that enterprises should use the fit testing instead of nominal value estimation to evaluate the noise reduction effect of hearing protection device. Special training on the selection and use of hearing protection device should be strengthened, so as to ensure that workers wear them correctly and improve the protective effect of hearing protection device.
