Hearing Protection Device Usage Research Articles

The influencing factors of hearing protection device usage among noise-exposed workers in Guangdong Province: a structural equation modeling-based survey.

There are numerous complex barriers and facilitators to continuously wearing hearing protection devices (HPDs) for noise-exposed workers. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the relationship between HPD wearing behavior and hearing protection knowledge and attitude, HPD wearing comfort, and work-related factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 524 noise-exposed workers in manufacturing enterprises in Guangdong Province, China. Data were collected on hearing protection knowledge and attitudes, HPD wearing comfort and behavior, and work-related factors through a questionnaire. Using structural equation modeling (SEM), we tested the association among the study variables. Among the total workers, 69.47% wore HPD continuously, and the attitudes of hearing protection (26.17 ± 2.958) and total HPD wearing comfort (60.13 ± 8.924) were satisfactory, while hearing protection knowledge (3.54 ± 1.552) was not enough. SEM revealed that hearing protection knowledge had direct effects on attitudes (β = 0.333, p < 0.01) and HPD wearing behavior (β = 0.239, p < 0.01), and the direct effect of total HPD wearing comfort on behavior was β = 0.157 (p < 0.01). The direct effect also existed between work shifts and behavior (β=-0.107, p < 0.05). Indirect relationships mainly existed between other work-related factors, hearing protection attitudes, and HPD wearing behavior through knowledge. Meanwhile, work operation had a direct and negative effect on attitudes (β=-0.146, p < 0.05), and it can also indirectly and positively affect attitudes through knowledge (β = 0.08, p < 0.05). The behavior of wearing HPD was influenced by hearing protection knowledge, comfort in wearing HPD, and work-related factors. The results showed that to improve the compliance of noise-exposed workers wearing HPD continuously when exposed to noise, the HPD wearing comfort and work-related factors must be taken into consideration. In addition, we evaluated HPD wearing comfort in physical and functional dimensions, and this study initially verified the availability of the questionnaire scale of HPD wearing comfort.

Risk or Efficacy? How risk perception and efficacy beliefs predicted using hearing protection devices among different groups of Chinese workers

Previous research identified perceived severity and efficacy beliefs (including response efficacy and self-efficacy) as two major predictors that affected the usage of hearing protection devices (HPD). However, whether the relative effects of perceived severity and efficacy beliefs on HPD usage varies across different populations remains unknown. Drawing upon the construal level theory of psychological distance, the present study aims to examine whether age and seniority, which were related to psychological distance, might moderate the effect of perceived severity of noise damage, response efficacy, and self-efficacy on HPD usage by Chinese workers at noise-exposure positions. A paper–pencil survey was conducted face to face with 449 Chinese workers in five factories who were exposed to noise at work. Age moderated the effect of perceived severity on HPD usage such that its positive effect was only significant for younger workers. In addition, seniority moderated the effects of both response efficacy and self-efficacy on HPD usage such that both types of efficacy beliefs exhibited stronger effects on HPD usage among senior workers compared to junior workers. Therefore, campaign messages targeted at younger workers should emphasize the severe consequences of noise exposure, whereas messages targeted at senior workers should elevate their response efficacy and self-efficacy in HPD usage.

Industrial Noise Pollution and Its Impact on the Hearing Capacity of Workers: A Case Study of Gujranwala City, Pakistan

The main purpose of this study was to analyze and evaluate the impacts of industrial noise pollution onhearing of workers in Gujranwala. Noise pollution levels were measured at fifty locations with the help of sound levelmeter, which was placed at a height above 1.2 meters from the ground. Two hundred workers were interviewed throughquestionnaire method. Different statistical tests correlation and chi-square were applied to analyze the noise pollutionlevel in Gujranwala city. Impacts of industrial noise pollution on hearing of workers were shown in different mapsusing interpolation and buffers. The present study concluded that noise pollution levels were exceeding the WHOpermissible limit of noise pollution at all sample locations. Workers of factories were suffering from annoyance,hypertension, irritation, interference with speech communication and sleep disturbance. Thus, it is necessary to possessa hearing discussion program in factories. One of its main parts is education to raise the consciousness of workers aboutnoise risks and techniques of prevention. Lastly, the issues of noise annoyance should be included in all future studieson the usage of hearing protection devices.

Industrial Noise Pollution and Its Impact on the Hearing Capacity of Workers: A Case Study of Gujranwala City, Pakistan

The main purpose of this study was to analyze and evaluate the impacts of industrial noise pollution onhearing of workers in Gujranwala. Noise pollution levels were measured at fifty locations with the help of sound levelmeter, which was placed at a height above 1.2 meters from the ground. Two hundred workers were interviewed throughquestionnaire method. Different statistical tests correlation and chi-square were applied to analyze the noise pollutionlevel in Gujranwala city. Impacts of industrial noise pollution on hearing of workers were shown in different mapsusing interpolation and buffers. The present study concluded that noise pollution levels were exceeding the WHOpermissible limit of noise pollution at all sample locations. Workers of factories were suffering from annoyance,hypertension, irritation, interference with speech communication and sleep disturbance. Thus, it is necessary to possessa hearing discussion program in factories. One of its main parts is education to raise the consciousness of workers aboutnoise risks and techniques of prevention. Lastly, the issues of noise annoyance should be included in all future studieson the usage of hearing protection devices.

Occupational Noise Exposure Among Airport Workers in Malaysia: An Ergonomic Investigation

Occupational noise is defined as a disturbance of sound at a workplace received by a worker’s auditory system when they are working. A sustained and prolonged exposure to the noise can cause permanent hearing loss or damage to the worker. According to Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA), there is a certain tolerable noise level that can be exposed to the workers at a given time. This study aims to investigate the level of noise produced at the landing area in Sultan Ahmad Shah (SAS) Airport, Kuantan, Malaysia. A comprehensive ergonomic assessment divided into two phases is utilized in order to evaluate the noise exposure of the workers. In Phase I, an initial Ergonomics Risk Assessment is applied to gather the information on the ergonomic risk factors of the noise exposure, while for Phase II, an advanced Ergonomics Risk Assessment is used by monitoring the noise using occupational noise level meter. Thirty workers from the landing area which consists of the ground handlers were included as the subjects for this study. The value of noise exposure is measured while the workers perform their job. Results suggested that (a) the workers are aware of the noise exposure as per results shown in initial Ergonomics Risk Assessment in Phase I, and (b) the workers were exposed to high level of noise as suggested by OSHA (> 100 dBA at 2 hours exposure). With the suggested findings, the management of SAS Airport needs to create sufficient awareness to emphasize the usage of hearing protection devices in the workplace.

Designing and Determination of Validity and Reliability of the Questionnaire Increasing the Duration of using the Hearing Protection Device by Workers based on BASNEF Model

Introduction: After the engineering noise control and management control, the last way for controling noise is using the hearing protective devices, whose effectiveness depends on full-time use of it. Due to the lack of a standard questionnaire about increasing the duration of workers' usage of hearing protection devices based on BASNEF behavioral pattern, this study has been done to design and measures this tool psychometrically. Materials & Methods: The initial questionnaire of this study is drawn out of the texts, similar articles, and questionnaires. Face Validity and Content validity are measured by Lavsheh method based on obtaining the view of experts panel and the reliability was done by cronbach's alpha coefficient by tile industry workers. All analyses were performed using 19 SPSS software. Findings: face validity and content validity of 49 items were identified. In professional content evaluation, CVR of items up to 60% were selected and the CVI of the remaining questions became 0.79%. The reliability of each of below indexes was approved as follow: knowledge: 82%, attitude: 88%, abstract norms: 83%, enabling factors: 88%, behavioral intention: 96% function: 89% and the overall reliability of research tool were approved by measuring Cronbach's alpha as 88%. Discussion & Conlusions: vThese results introduced good evidence about the validity and the reliability of measurement tools on BASNEF model in increasing duration of workers usage of hearing protection devices.

A Preliminary Study of a Spanish Graphic Novella Targeting Hearing Loss Prevention.

This preliminary study developed a digital graphic novella targeting hearing protection beliefs of Spanish-speaking agricultural workers. Researchers used pretest-posttest interview surveys to establish if the novella had an immediate influence on the participants' beliefs about noise-induced hearing loss and usage of hearing protection devices. Researchers developed a digital graphic novella directed to increase knowledge about noise-induced hearing loss and increase the proper use of hearing protection devices. The novella was tailored to meet the specific linguistic and literacy needs of Spanish-speaking agricultural workers. Thirty-one Spanish-speaking farmworkers of Mexican nationality participated. This study included an interview survey with specific questions on noise-induced hearing loss, myths, and hearing protection device usage. A pretest-posttest design was applied to measure the graphic novella's immediate influence on workers. The posttest scores on Hearing Protection Beliefs statements were significantly better than pretest scores, with a large effect size observed. Digital media may be an effective way to overcome language and literacy barriers with Spanish-speaking workers when providing health education and prevention efforts.

Hearing impairment and contributing factors among fertilizer factory workers.

Hearing impairment remains the main occupational health problem in the manufacturing industry, and its contributing factors have not been well controlled. Unmatched case control and comparative studies were carried out among fertilizer factory workers in Sarawak with the aim of determining contributing factors for hearing impairment. Respondents consisted of 49 cases that were diagnosed from 2005 to 2008 with 98 controls from the same work places. Chi-square test and Mann-Whitney test were used in a univariate analysis to determine the association between hearing impairment and the contributing risks being studied. The results of the univariate analysis showed that hearing impairment was significantly (p<0.05) associated with older age, lower education level, high smoking dose, high occupational daily noise dose, longer duration of service, infrequent used of hearing protection device (HPD), and low perception of sound on HPD usage. Multivariate logistic regression of hearing impairment after controlling for age found the following five variables: occupational daily noise dose ≥50% (OR 3.48, 95% CI 1.36-8.89), ≥15 years of services (OR 2.92, 95% CI 1.16-7.33), infrequent use of HPD (OR 2.79, 95% CI 1.15-6.77), low perception of sound on HPD (POR 2.77, 95% CI 1.09-6.97), and smoking more than 20 packs per year (OR 4.71, 95% CI 1.13-19.68). In conclusion, high occupational noise exposure level, longer duration of service, low perception of sound on HPD, infrequent used of HPD, and smoking more than 20 packs per year were the contributing factors to hearing impairment, and appropriate intervention measures should be proposed and taken into considerations.

The influence of jet engine noise on hearing of technical staff

Due to high sound pressure levels (SPLs), noise produced by jet planes may be harmful to hearing of people working in their proximity. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of exposure to jet engine noise on technical staff hearing. The study comprised 60 men, aged 24-50 years, employed in army as technical staff and exposed to jet engine noise for 6-20 years. The control group were 50 non-noise exposed males, aged 25-51 years. Exposure to noise emitted by jet engines was evaluated. Pure-tone audiometry (PTA) and distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE) were recorded in both groups. Jet engines emitted broadband noise with spectrum dominated by components in the frequency range 315-6300 Hz (1/3-octave bands). Maximum A-weighted SPL during tests reached values of approx. 120-130 dB. Consequently, engine-servicing personnel (even in the case of a single engine test) was exposed to noise (at A-weighted daily noise exposure level above 95 dB) exceeding permissible levels. Averaged audiometric hearing threshold levels of technical staff were higher (≤ 17 dB HL, p < 0.001) than in the control group. Similarly, the DPOAE amplitude was lower (≤ 17 dB SPL, p < 0.01) in the noise-exposed subjects compared to the non-exposed ones. Significant reduction of DPOAE levels was mainly noted for high frequencies (3-6 kHz). Despite the usage of hearing protection devices, both PTA and DPOAE consistently showed poorer hearing in engine-servicing personnel vs. control group.

Occupational exposure to noise and hearing thresholds among civilian aircraft maintenance workers

High noise exposure is anticipated to be present in the aircraft maintenance operations in civil aviation sector. The objective of the present study is the assessment of noise exposure and hearing threshold of the aircraft maintenance workers in this sector. Noise levels were measured in the aircraft hangers and in the workshops at a main international airport in Saudi Arabia. Two hundred aircraft maintenance workers were subjected to pure tone audiometry. The average Leq,8h at most of the aircraft maintenance operations was considerably high and most of the workers (89.5%) were exposed to noise levels ≥85 dBA. Frequency analysis of sound pressure levels revealed that the contribution of the octave bands 1, 2 and 4 kHz to the overall noise level was high. The audiograms of the examined workers showed significant hearing impairment as compared to non-noise-exposed Saudi employees. Although the observed excessive noise levels can cause hearing loss, the effect among the studied aircraft maintenance workers was mild. This might be attributed to the usage of hearing protection devices, the intermittent nature of the workers' exposure to noise and job rotation. Statistical analysis revealed significant association of both age and usage of hearing protectors with hearing loss. The effect of exposure duration on hearing loss was also detected. Relevance to industryUnlike military aircraft maintenance workers, exposure of civilian workers to noise is not sufficiently addressed. The data presented in this study may be used to set appropriate measures for hearing protection among those workers.

Exposição ao ruído na indústria de transformação no Brasil

A exposição ao ruído no trabalho é o fator de risco modificável mais importante para a perda auditiva em adultos. Na indústria de transformação, a exposição a níveis elevados de pressão sonora afeta um grande número de trabalhadores. As normas brasileiras estabelecem como obrigatório, para todas as empresas, o monitoramento do ruído ocupacional e da condição auditiva dos trabalhadores, assim como garantias para a proteção do trabalhador. No entanto, a aplicação das normas é frágil e pouco se sabe sobre a distribuição de exposição ao ruído no País. Este estudo tem como objetivo investigar e sumarizar a distribuição da exposição ao ruído e do uso do equipamento de proteção auditiva entre trabalhadores da indústria de transformação no Brasil. A menor prevalência de exposição ao ruído dentre os ramos da indústria da transformação é de 45% e poucos são os dados sobre o uso do equipamento de proteção auditiva entre os trabalhadores expostos. Comparando-se os disponíveis para os diferentes ramos de atividade, a exposição ao ruído alcança níveis mais altos no ramo da fabricação de produtos de madeira, onde também se observa a menor proporção de uso do equipamento de proteção auditiva. A escassez de dados sobre as condições de trabalho, exposição ao ruído e proteção auditiva, limita os esforços em fazer com que a saúde auditiva seja incluída entre as prioridades da saúde pública no Brasil.

Hearing protection device usage at a South African gold mine

Occupational noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) occurs in many industries despite interventions such as hearing conservation programmes. To determine the actual and reported use of hearing protection devices (HPDs) in noise-exposed gold mine workers and their reported knowledge, attitudes and practices relating to NIHL and HPDs. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in which 101 noise-exposed mine workers were interviewed and their use of HPDs observed. Thirteen percent of respondents erroneously indicated that their workplaces were not noisy, 16% did not appreciate noise as a hearing loss hazard, 6% did not know that HPDs protect hearing and 3% believed that HPDs did not protect hearing. While 93% of respondents reported using HPDs, only 50% were observed to be doing so. Observed use was less among lower skilled workers, and, despite training, 8% of respondents claimed never to have been informed about the benefits of HPDs. Consistent and continuous use was reported by 24% and 31% of respondents, respectively. Reasons for not using HPDs included discomfort. Most respondents (57%) preferred training methods other than the current computer-assisted training. The persistence of NIHL may be explained by limited use of HPDs, along with the suboptimal knowledge of noise as a hazard, workplace noisiness and the benefits of HPDs among some workers. Concurrent with engineering controls, a range of HPDs should be available free of charge, and HPD training reviewed particularly for lower skilled workers.

Dysfunctional thinking patterns and immigration status as predictors of hearing protection device usage

There is limited research on the role of dysfunctional/irrational thinking processes and immigration status on hearing protection device (HPD) usage. The aim of the study is to investigate the effects of low frustration tolerance (LFT) and immigration status on HPD usage among employees exposed to hazardous industrial noise. A total of 117 Israeli-borns and 80 new immigrants from former Soviet Union completed a questionnaire. The association between HPD usage and barriers to action, self-efficacy, and LFT (accounting for age, years of exposure, and immigration status) were assessed using ordered logistic regression models. LFT was associated negatively (adjusted odds ratio [OR]=.25, 95%; confidence interval [CI]=.15-.41) with HPD usage. Self-efficacy was a modifier (adjusted OR=1.47, 95%; CI=1.34-1.63): the higher the self-efficacy for a given LFT level, the higher the extent of HPD usage. Immigration status was not a significant predictor. HPD usage is associated with both rational and irrational motivations. The role of LFT in hearing protection should be further investigated.