Use of structured, interactive interviews in retrospective noise exposure assessment in an occupational epidemiologic study

Abstract

As part of a NIOSH study examining factors affecting hearing conservation program (HCP) effectiveness, a job-noise exposure matrix was constructed using these data sources: (1) task-based sound level survey data; (2) noise exposure data (dosimetry and sound level surveys) provided from plant historical reports; (3) information on process changes and engineering controls; (4) interviews with plant personnel (in engineering and safety departments); and (5) detailed work history data from personnel records for each employee in the plant HCP. For plants in which changes in exposures have occurred due to engineering control and process changes, exposure estimation becomes a challenge when there are data gaps in exposure and process changes. This paper discusses how data from structured employee interviews can be used in conjunction with available quantitative, records-based data to reconstruct processes and machinery/layout history. The goal was to characterize how noise exposure determinants (manufacturing environment, equipment, processes, shift lengths) have changed and to estimate exposure by department, job, and era. The first step was to identify employees for interview whose jobs were located in departments where exposure data were sparse or nonexistent. Data collection efforts were then geared towards reconstructing noise exposure for specific departments and jobs over time.