Risk assessment of occupational and occupationally conditioned diseases connection to noise when exceeding maximum permissible levels

Abstract

In accordance with the requirements of paragraph 3.2.6 of sanitary rules and norms «Sanitary and epidemiological requirements for physical factors at workplace», in the event of exceeding noise level at workplace above 80 dBA, an employer is obliged to assess the health risk of workers and confirm an acceptable risk to their health. The connection between the incidence of occupational and occupationally conditioned diseases with noise exposure exceeding the maximum permissible levels (80 dBA) was estimated. The assessment was carried out at a food industry enterprise of Perm Region. Assessing the relationship between morbidity and noise exposure is the first step in evaluation of occupational health risks for workers exposed to noise exceeding MAL. If a reliable relationship between morbidity and noise exposure is established, an assessment of occupational risk is conducted. The odds ratio (OR) for diseases characterized by high blood pressure and disorders of autonomic nervous system was <1 (confidence interval CI=0.11–1.61 and CI=0.08–2.78, respectively). The relative risk (RR) for diseases characterized by high blood pressure and disorders of autonomic nervous system was <1. The received data testify absence of connection of morbidity with exposure to industrial noise, calculation of etiological share of responses and levels of risk is not required.