Introduction: Automotive workers are exposed to high level of noise as part of their daily work routine. Determining the predictors of knowledge, attitude and practice of noise induced hearing loss (NIHL) among automotive is important because it may help prevent a serious irreversible disease known as noise induced hearing loss. Methods: A cross sectional study in an automotive plant in Shah Alam, Selangor was conducted from January 2015 to May 2015 among 550 workers with response rate of 83%. Respondents were workers from the operational divisions, selected based on simple random sampling using validated, published (1) and reliable self-administered questionnaire that focused on knowledge, attitude and practice towards NIHL. Results: Logistic Regression was used to determine predictors and the predictors for satisfactory knowledge on noise induced hearing loss were perceived noise exposure as harmful noise (AOR=0.54, 95%CI = 1.02 - 3.41), years in service for more than 10 years (AOR=2.79, 95%CI = 1.71 – 4.56) and had received training on safety (AOR=1.94, 95%CI = 1.12 – 3.36). For satisfactory attitude the predictors were perceived noise exposure as harmful noise (AOR=3.79, 95%CI = 2.36 – 6.10), years in service for more than 10 years (AOR=0.56, 95%CI = 0.34 – 0.83) and tertiary level of education (AOR=3.61, 95%CI = 1.67 - 7.81). As for satisfactory practice the predictors were more than 10 years in service (AOR=2.16, 95%CI = 1.24 – 3.75) and had received training on safety (AOR=1.94, 95%CI = 1.26 – 2.99). Conclusions: The results from this study may be used to set appropriate measures and identify workers who are at risk of developing noise induced hearing loss.
Hearing Loss ; Noise, Occupational

Humans ; Noise, Occupational ; Occupational Exposure

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to evaluate the sound pressure levels of selected traffic enforcer sites in the City of Manila.

METHODOLOGY: A Brüel & Kjær Integrating Sound Level Meter type 2225 was used to measure sound pressure levels in dB(A) to estimate personal noise exposure of traffic enforcers designated at Quezon Boulevard near Quiapo Church and Recto - Rizal Avenue on a weekday and a weekend. Graphs were generated while appropriate measures were calculated for the noise exposure levels. The mean exposure levels were compared with the Philippine Occupational Safety and Health standards by computing the corresponding permissible exposure limit for each work shift using the Equal Energy Principle.17

RESULTS: Noise exposure levels at Quezon Boulevard ranged from 75.0 dB(A) to 91.5 dB(A) with mean noise exposure level of 84.3 ± 3.7 dB(A) and 82.5 ± 2.6 dB(A) for the weekday AM and PM shift, respectively. The mean noise exposure level at Quezon Boulevard for the weekend AM shift was 82.4 ± 2.6, whereas 80.4 ± 2.8 for the PM shift. The noise exposure levels at Recto - Rizal Avenue ranged from 81.5 dB(A) to 99.3 dB(A) with mean noise exposure level of 86.7 ± 2.6 dB(A) and 86.0 ± 2.1 dB(A) for the weekday AM and PM shift, respectively. The mean noise exposure level at Recto - Rizal Avenue for the weekend AM shift was 86.7 ± 2.3, whereas 89.0 ± 4.0 for the PM shift.

CONCLUSION: The study showed that traffic enforcers designated at Quezon Boulevard and Recto - Rizal Avenue are exposed to noise levels that do not exceed the Philippine Occupational Safety and Health standards.

Human ; Noise, Occupational ; Occupational Health

Dental Offices ; Hospitals ; Noise, Occupational

BACKGROUNDNoise is widespread occupational hazard in iron and steel industry. Overhead-traveling cranes are widely used in this industry, but few studies characterized the overhead-traveling crane drivers' noise exposure level so far. In this study, we assessed and characterized personal noise exposure levels of overhead-traveling crane drivers in two steel-rolling mills.

METHODSOne hundred and twenty-four overhead-traveling crane drivers, 76 in the cold steel-rolling mill and 48 in the hot steel-rolling mill, were enrolled in the study. Personal noise dosimeters (AIHUA Instruments Model AWA5610e, Hangzhou, China) were used to collect full-shift noise exposure data from all the participants. Crane drivers carried dosimeters with microphones placed near their collars during the work shifts. Work logs had been taken by the drivers simultaneously. Personal noise exposure data were divided into segments based on lines in which they worked. All statistical analyses were done using SPSS 13.0.

RESULTSThe average personal noise exposure (L(Aeq.8h)) of overhead-traveling crane drivers in the hot steel-rolling mills ((85.03 +/- 2.25) dB (A)) was higher than that in the cold one ((83.05 +/- 2.93) dB (A), P < 0.001). There were 17 overhead traveling cranes in the hot steel-rolling mill and 24 cranes in the cold one, of which carrying capacities varied from 15 tons to 100 tons. The average noise exposure level based on different lines in the hot and cold steel-rolling mills were (85.2 +/- 2.61) dB (A) and (83.3 +/- 3.10) dB (A) respectively (P = 0.001), which were similar to the average personal noise exposure in both mills. The noise exposure levels were different among different lines (P = 0.021).

CONCLUSIONNoise exposure levels, depending upon background noise levels and the noise levels on the ground, are inconstant. As the noise exposure levels are above the 85 dB (A) criteria, these drivers should be involved in the Hearing Conservation Program to protect their hearing.

Environmental Monitoring ; instrumentation ; methods ; statistics & numerical data ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Noise, Occupational ; Noise, Transportation ; Occupational Exposure ; analysis ; statistics & numerical data ; Occupational Health ; statistics & numerical data ; Steel

Non-steady state noise has become the main type of workplace noise. Compared with steady state noise, non-steady state noise may cause more serious hearing loss. This paper reviews the new situation of occupational hearing loss caused by non-steady state noise exposure, the overview of international noise exposure assessment standards and new challenges, and the new evidence of non-steady state noise induced hearing loss, so as to provide the basis for the future research of non-steady state noise induced hearing loss.
Auditory Threshold ; Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced ; Humans ; Noise ; Noise, Occupational/adverse effects* ; Occupational Diseases/epidemiology*

INTRODUCTION: Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) attributed to occupational noise exposure is one of the most common causes of permanent hearing impairment. In the Philippines, road traffic remains the biggest source of noise. The authors aimed to determine the prevalence of NIHL among traffic enforcers in Quezon City and quantify their occupational noise exposure levels. METHODS: Traffic enforcers were recruited via convenience sampling and screened using a questionnaire and otoscopic examination. Participants underwent pure tone audiometry and those found to have hearing loss were classified as “indicative” or “suspected” NIHL. Audiometric measurements of noise levels in areas where the traffic enforcers were assigned were taken using a calibrated smartphone application. RESULTS: “Indicative of NIHL” was highest in the 41 to 50-year age group and “suspected NIHL” was highest in the 31 to 40-year age group. “Indicative of NIHL” was highest among those working for 1 to 5 and 11 to 15 years in the right ear (25%) and 11 to 15 years in the left ear (30%). “Suspected NIHL” was highest among those working for 6 to 10 years. The average noise levels from the different areas measured at different times ranged from 79.0 to 82.5 dB. CONCLUSION “Indicative of NIHL” is more prevalent in the older age group while “suspected NIHL” is more prevalent in the middle age group. The prevalence of “indicative of NIHL” is highest among those in service for 1 to 5 and 11 to 15 years while “suspected NIHL” is highest among those in the service for 6 to 10 years. The average noise level measurements were within the safe values suggested by WHO.
Audiometry, Pure-Tone ; Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced ; Noise, Occupational

OBJECTIVETo explore the crew and passengers' comfort on the Shijiazhuang-Taiyuan passenger dedicated line and physical factors, such as air pressure, noise, wind speed.

METHODSComfort investigation of all the crew (n = 244) and passengers (n = 377) on the Shijiazhuang-Taiyuan passenger dedicated line at speed of 250 km/h and 200 km/h and the detection of the air pressure, noise and wind speed were performed in 2011.

RESULTSSignificantly higher ratio of comfortable feeling, lower ratio of seriously discomfortable feeling were observed in crew and passengers at 200 km/h compared with those at 250 km/h (P < 0.05), as well as rapid disappearance of discomfortable feeling in crew (P < 0.05) and significantly higher ratio of lightly discomfortable feeling and lower ratios of tinnitus and eardrum discomfort induced by air pressure and noise in passengers at 200 km/h. No significant difference was observed in ear discomfort induced by air pressure and noise among crew, and the duration of disappearance of discomfortable feeling among passengers between 200 km/h and 250 km/h. The noise in carriages exceeded the related standard when the high-speed train passing through the tunnels.

CONCLUSIONThe individuals feel more comfortable at 200 km/h than 250 km/h in this line., which may be related with rapid variation of wind speed and noise when the train passes through the tunnels with high speed.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Atmospheric Pressure ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Noise, Occupational ; Noise, Transportation ; Occupational Health ; Railroads ; Sensation ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Wind ; Workplace ; Young Adult

According to the research on the pathogenesis of the hidden hearing loss in recent years, the occurrence of the hidden hearing loss is earlier than the permanent hearing threshold shift. This paper reviews the risk factors of hidden hearing loss, the pathogenesis of noise-induced hidden hearing loss, and the detection methods of hidden hearing loss. To explore the significance of hidden hearing loss in occupational health surveillance, and to provide reference for hearing protection of workers exposed to noise and hearing loss early in the future.
Hearing ; Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced ; Humans ; Noise, Occupational ; Occupational Diseases ; Occupational Exposure ; Occupational Health

Algorithms ; Noise, Occupational ; Numerical Analysis, Computer-Assisted