Risk Of Occupational Hearing Loss Research Articles

Features of professional hearing loss with combined exposure to noise and vibration

For most modern industries, there is characteristic the simultaneous impact of noise with other factors aggravating its effect.
 The purpose of the study is to determine the features of occupational hearing loss in the combined effects 
 of noise and vibration.
 Materials and methods. A comparative assessment of the level of occupational risk and audiometric indicators was carried out in three groups of employees: 1st group (210 people) — is exposed to noise, 2nd group 
 (170 people) — to noise and local vibration, 3rd group (200 people) — to noise and general vibration.
 Results. In group 1 workers exposed to isolated noise, occupational hearing loss was diagnosed significantly less frequently compared to group 2 and 3 including workers exposed to combined noise and vibration 
 (7% vs. 14 and 13%, respectively, p < 0.05). Combined exposure to noise and vibration increases the risk of occupational hearing loss by 1.82–1.85 times (RR = 1.82–1.85; EF = 45–46%). Audiological features 
 of the lesion of the auditory analyzer have been revealed depending on the presence and nature of the affecting vibration, manifested by changes in hearing thresholds in certain frequency spectra and their combination. According to the data of speech audiometry, a violation of speech intelligibility with the presence of speech-tonal dissociation was revealed in workers of groups 2 and 3, indicating violations in the central department 
 of the auditory analyzer.
 Limitations of the study. The study is limited to the study of the features of occupational hearing loss in the combined effects of noise and vibration in mining workers according to audiometric indicators.
 Conclusion. The conducted studies have shown the need to develop individual programs for the preservation of hearing, taking into account the degree of risk and the identified features of the formation of occupational hearing loss. The topic of research on the effects of noise and vibration on hearing loss requires in-depth research, taking into account the intensity and duration of vibration exposure, the type of vibration generating equipment.

Preventing Occupational Hearing Loss: 50 Years of Research and Recommendations from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

For more than 50 years, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), part of the United States (U.S.) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), has been actively working to reduce the effects of noise and ototoxic chemicals on worker hearing. NIOSH has pioneered basic and applied research on occupational hearing risks and preventive measures. The Institute has issued recommendations and promoted effective interventions through mechanisms ranging from formal criteria documents to blogs and social media. NIOSH has conducted surveillance and published statistics to guide policy and target prevention efforts. Over the past five decades, substantial progress has been made in raising awareness of noise as a hazard, reducing the risk of occupational hearing loss, improving the use of hearing protection, and advancing measurement and control technologies. Nevertheless, noise remains a prevalent workplace hazard and occupational hearing loss is still one of the most common work-related conditions. NIOSH continues to work toward preventing the effects of noise and ototoxicants at work and has many resources to assist audiologists in their hearing loss prevention efforts.

Applying kurtosis-adjusted equivalent continuous A-weighted sound pressure level to evaluate risk of occupational hearing loss associated with non-steady state noise

Applying kurtosis-adjusted equivalent continuous A-weighted sound pressure level to evaluate risk of occupational hearing loss associated with non-steady state noise

Critical Factors Affecting Intention of Use of Augmented Hearing Protection Technology in Construction

AbstractDespite the risk of occupational hearing loss, many noise-exposed construction workers are unwilling to wear hearing protection devices (HPDs) due to their concern about the degraded audibi...

Priorities for occupational noise in Britain

Regulation of occupational exposure to noise in Britain for 50 years has reduced risk. However, statistics from around the globe (and in Britain alone) suggest that the range in harm is between around zero and more than 1 in 4 workers exposed to high noise. The uncertainty in statistics and the potential high incidence and prevalence of harm justifies investigation. In Britain, we will investigate the current risk of occupational hearing loss and the effectiveness of current noise control measures. We propose to gather data during inspections of industries that are known to have high levels of workplace noise. Finding high incidence of hearing damage will indicate a failure of immediate management of risk and likely result in enforcement action. We propose to review employers' control of noise propagation in the workplace through use and maintenance of noise controls supplied with machines and supplemented with acoustic barriers and noise havens. We propose to review suppliers design and build of noise control into their products and their reported noise emissions for noisiest typical use. We are looking to benefit from the experience of our global counterparts before finalising our plans.

Noise Exposure Levels from Extended Workshifts

Noise exposure level is the magnitude used to assess the risk of occupational hearing loss. For that reason, its correct measurement and interpretation are of utmost importance. A common practice is to perform the measurement during a representative period of time, generally during an entire workshift, and to assume that the acoustic environment repeats for the rest of the weeks, months, and years. Unfortunately, this assumption is not always accurate. This paper focuses on workshifts of durations other than 8 hours. It presents a novel approach when dealing with seasonal workers and those active for only part of the year. Keywords: Equivalentlevel, hearing loss, shift duration, exposure duration, seasonal workers. Read more →

The Role of the Kurtosis Metric in Evaluating the Risk of Occupational Hearing Loss Associated with Complex Noise - Zhejiang Province, China, 2010-2019.

What is already known about this topic?Occupational noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) has been the second most common occupational disease in China. Noise energy is the main risk factor for occupational NIHL. Evidence shows the temporal structure of noise (as indicated by kurtosis metric) contribute to the development of NIHL. However, the role of the kurtosis metric in evaluating the risk of occupational NIHL associated with complex noise has been rarely reported.What is added by this report?Noise temporal structure (as indicated by kurtosis) is an important risk factor for occupational NIHL in addition to noise energy. Kurtosis can be used to quantify complex noise exposure. A combination of noise kurtosis and noise energy can effectively evaluate the risk of occupational hearing loss associated with complex noise.What are the implications for public health practice?Considering the effect of noise temporal structure on occupational NIHL, the existing international noise exposure standards (e.g. measurement method and noise exposure limit) for complex noise should be modified based on noise temporal structure. More effort is needed to reduce noise exposure, improve health screening, and monitor occupational NIHL.

[Preventive hearing tests in workers exposed to noise and organic solvents].

Robust evidence confirms that occupational exposures to organic solvents are ototoxic and can aggravate the effects of noise on the auditory organ. Accordingly, Directive 2003/10/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council recommends that in assessing the risk of occupational hearing loss, the interaction of noise and organic solvents to hearing should be taken into account. Given that no prophylactic recommendations have been established to date, this study is intended to provide physicians with guidance in conducting audiometric tests in workers exposed to noise and organic solvents. The paper discusses the biological effects of noise and organic solvents on the auditory organ and current possibilities of estimating the risk of hearing loss due to isolated exposures to solvents, as well as combined exposures to these chemicals and noise. The scope of medical examination and the significance of individual hearing tests, such as pure-tone audiometry, impedance audiometry, auditory brainstem responses, speech in quiet and speech in noise audiometry, and dichotic digit test, in the diagnostics of solvent-induced hearing loss are presented. An algorithm for conducting hearing tests in workers exposed to organic solvents, and co-exposed to noise and organic solvents, has been proposed depending on the concentration of solvents and noise level. Shown also is the necessity to perform annual audiometric testing in all workers exposed to organic solvents whose concentration in the air exceeds values safe for hearing. In workers exposed to noise and organic solvents, audiometric examinations should be mandatory in all subjects in whom the level of noise exceeds the lower action level defined by Directive 2003/10/EC, which is LEX,8h = 80 dB. Taking into account the detrimental effects of organic solvents to central auditory pathways, in addition to pure-tone audiometry, speech audiometry (preferentially speech in noise) should be included. The introduction of preventive audiometric tests in workers exposed to organic solvents, along with an extension of indications and the scope of hearing tests in workers co-exposed to noise and solvents, is a prerequisite for effective prevention of occupational hearing loss in these professional groups. Med Pr. 2020;71(4):493-505.

[Noise-induced hearing loss excess risk: indicators and criteria the problem of choosing].

The optimal indicators and adequate criteria for the quantitative assessment of hearing loss excess risk with noise exposure above 80 dBA is urgently needed determination. The technology for calculating hearing thresholds according to the model of the third edition of the ISO 1999.3:2013 standard, depending on gender, age, length of service and noise exposure, based on MSExcell tables, for population percentiles 1÷99% in 1% steps has been developed. Rules for selecting optimal indicators and criteria for hearing loss for the early signs of hearing loss excess risk and the excess risk of occupational noise-induced hearing loss have been developed. The excess risk of hearing loss for men on the age, length of service and the level of noise exposure dependences are calculated. The optimal indicators and criteria for hearing loss to identify early signs of the effect of noise on the hearing organ and to calculate the excess risk of hearing loss when exposed to noise are identified. Calculated by the average binaural hearing threshold at frequencies of 0.5; 1.0; 2.0 and 3.0 kHz with an 30 dB assessment criterion excess risk most adequately solves the risk of occupational hearing loss determining problem. For the determine of early signs of hearing loss excess risk the average binaural threshold for hearing at frequencies of 4 and 6 kHz with an assessment criterion of 20 dB is useful better.

WORKING CONDITIONS FOR EMPLOYEES OF THE ENTERPRISE OF WOODWORKING INDUSTRY

The hygienic assessment of working conditions at the modern furniture company showed such conditions at main work places are referred to the third class of the first and second degrees of the hazard and danger. The most adverse working conditions (3 class, 2 degree) are typical for operators of woodworking machines, machine operator in a spray booth for the edges of the sorter-stacker at the discharge conveyor line trim boards and spray the frames, the sorter-stacker at the feed conveyor panels of finish line rollers. Man-made noise, low lightness of working places, and the hardness of the labor process are most harmful occupational factors. Implementation of paint operations on processing of furniture components is further accompanied by the air pollution of the working area by chemicals and exposure of the body of the worker to the heating microclimate of radiation-convection type. Most of workplaces are characterized by summing the classes of working conditions on a number of factors. It indicates to their complex impact on the body of the worker. The assessment of the risk of occupational hearing loss showed the most probability of its development in machine operators and packers.

Hearing Difficulty Attributable to Employment by Industry and Occupation: An Analysis of the National Health Interview Survey—United States, 1997 to 2003

To estimate the national burden of hearing difficulty among workers in US industries and occupations. Data on 130,102 employed National Health Interview Survey respondents between the ages of 18 to 65 years who were interviewed between 1997 and 2003 were analyzed to estimate the population prevalence, adjusted prevalence ratios, and fractions of hearing difficulty attributable to employment. The estimated population prevalence of hearing difficulty was 11.4% (24% attributable to employment). The adjusted prevalence ratios of hearing difficulty were highest for railroads, mining, and primary metal manufacturing industry. Occupations with increased risk of hearing difficulty were mechanics/repairers, machine operators, and transportation equipment operators. Hearing difficulty was differentially distributed across various industries. In industries with high rates, employers and workers should take preventive action to reduce the risk of occupational hearing loss.

Noise exposure and hearing conservation practices in an industry with high incidence of workers' compensation claims for hearing loss.

Washington State has experienced a striking increase in workers' compensation claims for hearing loss. This cross-sectional study examined noise exposures and hearing conservation practices in one industry with a high rate of hearing loss claims. We evaluated 10 representative foundries with personal noise dosimetry, management interviews, employee interviews, and existing audiometry. Noise levels routinely exceeded 85 dBA. All companies were out of compliance with hearing conservation regulations. Most employees with important findings on audiograms were not aware of their findings. There was a significant positive correlation between management-interview scores and worksite-average employee-interview scores (r = 0.70, P = 0.02). Companies where more effort is put into hearing conservation program activities can achieve a greater positive impact on employee awareness. However, there were broad deficiencies even in the better programs in this sample, suggesting that workers in this industry probably face a continuing substantial risk of occupational hearing loss.

Unusual jobs require unusual methods for noise exposure measurement

With the diversity of the American workplace, the one size fits all approach cannot accommodate every occupational noise exposure measurement challenge. This is precisely why ANSI Standard S12.19-1996, ‘‘Measurement of Occupational Noise Exposure,’’ permits different measurement criteria and a variety of instrumentation and methodologies. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) use employee-worn noise dosimeters almost exclusively to document alleged violations of the occupational noise standards. However, employers and consultants may use any method that properly identifies those employees who need to be included in a hearing conservation program and that relates the noise exposure with the risk of occupational hearing loss and the effectiveness of hearing protection devices. Some environmental and operational hearing loss and the effectiveness of hearing protection devices. Some environmental and operational problems that affect occupational noise measurement are temperature, humidity, rain, wind, radio, magnetic and microwave interference, intrinsic safety, and the presence of hazardous materials. To illustrate effective handling of these measurement problems, the methodologies used in the occupational noise exposure assessment of operating municipal departments will be discussed.