RESUMEN
This Quasi experimental study was conducted with the objective to determine the effectiveness of preventive measures including awareness programme and use of hearing protective devices (HPDs) for the prevention and control of Noise Induced Hearing Loss among Oil and Gas field workers from January 2015 to March 2016. A total of 120 workers were selected by convenient sampling, and subjected to pure tone audiometry (PTA) to obtain hearing thresholds followed by intervention with HPDs and retesting a year later. The Mean pure tone thresholds on first visit was 21.19±11.60 dB in right and 24.66±13.26 dB in left ear, while means at second visit (after one year) were 20.65±10.44 dB and 21.45±11.74 dB for the right and left ears respectively with statistically significant difference (p=0.001) for the left ear on t-test. However the difference of frequency and percentage of the participants with normal and reduced hearing at both visits was significant (chi square P=0.001). Hearing protective devices (HPDs) are an effective means to prevent NIHL in workers of oil and gas fields.
Asunto(s)
Dispositivos de Protección de los Oídos , Pérdida Auditiva Provocada por Ruido , Ruido en el Ambiente de Trabajo , Enfermedades Profesionales , Adulto , Audiometría de Tonos Puros/métodos , Audiometría de Tonos Puros/estadística & datos numéricos , Dispositivos de Protección de los Oídos/normas , Dispositivos de Protección de los Oídos/provisión & distribución , Femenino , Pérdida Auditiva Provocada por Ruido/diagnóstico , Pérdida Auditiva Provocada por Ruido/epidemiología , Pérdida Auditiva Provocada por Ruido/etiología , Pérdida Auditiva Provocada por Ruido/prevención & control , Humanos , Masculino , Ruido en el Ambiente de Trabajo/efectos adversos , Ruido en el Ambiente de Trabajo/prevención & control , Enfermedades Profesionales/diagnóstico , Enfermedades Profesionales/etiología , Enfermedades Profesionales/prevención & control , Industria del Petróleo y Gas/normas , Evaluación de Resultado en la Atención de Salud , Pakistán/epidemiología , Servicios Preventivos de Salud/métodosRESUMEN
Objective: To investigate the noise distribution characteristics, workers' exposure to noise, and protective measures against noise on offshore oil platforms. Methods: Six offshore oil platforms with a similar scale of production from China National Offshore Oil Corporation were selected from June to October, 2015 to conduct a field investigation of occupational health and detection of risk factors for occupational diseases and to know the current status of noise hazard on offshore oil platforms. Results: Among the 373 sites for noise measurement, 69.7% had a noise level of ≥80 dB (A) ; among the 196 sites for noise measurement in the area with noisy equipment, 86.7% had a noise level of ≥80 dB (A) ; among the 177 sites for noise measurement in the area without noisy equipment, 50.8% had a noise level of ≥80 dB (A) . The actual sound attenuation of earplugs used on platforms was 18.6 dB (A) , and if they were worn correctly, they had a maximum value of noise protection of 103.6 dB (A) . The workers engaged in indoor operation were exposed to noise for 0.5~1.0 hour per day, and the 40 h/week equivalent sound level (weekly noise exposure, LEX, w) met the requirements in GBZ 2.2-2007 Occupational exposure limits for hazardous agents in the workplace Part 2: Physical agents[85 dB (A) ]. The workers engaged in outdoor operation were exposed to noise for 6.0~8.0 hours per day, and the over-standard rate of LEX, w was 53.7%. The noise exposure level showed a significant difference between the two groups, and indoor operation workers had a significantly lower noise exposure level than outdoor operation workers[ (69.8±3.4) dB (A) vs (85.5±3.5) dB (A) , P<0.05]. Conclusion: Noise sources on offshore oil platforms show the characteristic of centralized distribution, and noisy equipment have a great impact on the area without noisy equipment. The noise exposure level differs significantly between workers engaged in indoor and outdoor operation, and noise protection mainly relies on personal protective supplies.
Asunto(s)
Ruido en el Ambiente de Trabajo/estadística & datos numéricos , Exposición Profesional/estadística & datos numéricos , Industria del Petróleo y Gas , China , Dispositivos de Protección de los Oídos/provisión & distribución , Pérdida Auditiva Provocada por Ruido , Humanos , Ruido , Enfermedades Profesionales , Salud Laboral , Encuestas y Cuestionarios , Lugar de TrabajoRESUMEN
Farmers experience higher rates of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) than workers in most other industries. We developed a model of farmers' use of hearing protection, and tested it with a random sample (n = 532) of farmers from the upper Midwest. Barriers to using hearing protection (e.g., difficulty communicating; OR = .44, p < .003) were negatively related to use. Greater access/availability of hearing protectors (OR = 1.75, p < .010) and male gender (OR = .43, p < .019) were positively related to use. The model correctly predicted use of hearing protection for 74% of the cases. Overall, farmers demonstrated low hearing protector use, and results were similar to those from previous studies of non-farm workers. Findings from this study will be useful in designing interventions to increase farmers' hearing protector use and decrease their rates of NIHL.
Asunto(s)
Enfermedades de los Trabajadores Agrícolas/prevención & control , Actitud Frente a la Salud , Dispositivos de Protección de los Oídos/estadística & datos numéricos , Pérdida Auditiva Provocada por Ruido/prevención & control , Autocuidado , Adulto , Enfermedades de los Trabajadores Agrícolas/epidemiología , Análisis de Varianza , Estudios Transversales , Dispositivos de Protección de los Oídos/efectos adversos , Dispositivos de Protección de los Oídos/provisión & distribución , Femenino , Conductas Relacionadas con la Salud , Encuestas de Atención de la Salud , Conocimientos, Actitudes y Práctica en Salud , Pérdida Auditiva Provocada por Ruido/epidemiología , Humanos , Modelos Lineales , Modelos Logísticos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Medio Oeste de Estados Unidos/epidemiología , Modelos Psicológicos , Valor Predictivo de las Pruebas , Autocuidado/instrumentación , Autocuidado/psicología , Autocuidado/estadística & datos numéricos , Autoeficacia , Apoyo SocialAsunto(s)
Dispositivos de Protección de los Oídos/estadística & datos numéricos , Pérdida Auditiva/prevención & control , Personal Militar , Enfermedades Profesionales/prevención & control , Servicios de Salud del Trabajador , Dispositivos de Protección de los Oídos/provisión & distribución , HumanosRESUMEN
This study evaluated the noise attenuation of earplugs and earmuffs or their combined use against heavy weapon noise in field conditions for military personnel. The noise attenuation was measured with a miniature microphone inserted into the ear canal. The subjects (13) were tested against pink noise and against the noise of explosions and bazooka, mortar, cannon, and howitzer. The attenuation (insertion loss) was 16 to 23 dB for earplugs, 10 to 20 dB for earmuffs, and 24 to 34 dB for the combined use of plugs and muffs. The transfer function of an open ear was 5 to 7 dB when measured as the C-weighted peak level. The combined use of earplugs and earmuffs gave smaller attenuation values than expected. If the limit for the C-weighted peak level is 140 dB for unprotected ears, then protection against low-frequency noise is provided for up to 156 dB by earplugs, up to 150 dB by earmuffs, and up to 165 dB by the combined use of plugs and muffs.