Impact of Daily Noise Exposure Monitoring on Occupational Noise Exposures in Manufacturing Workers

Details

• Alternative Title:
  Int J Audiol
• Personal Author:
  McTague, Michael F. ; Galusha, Deron ; Dixon-Ernst, Christine ; Kirsche, Sharon R. ; Slade, Martin D. ; Cullen, Mark R. ; Rabinowitz, Peter M.
• Description:
  Objective
  
  Despite the use of hearing protective devices (HPDs), noise induced hearing loss (NIHL) remains one of the most prevalent occupational conditions. A new technology allows for daily monitoring of noise exposures under HPDs. We report on an intervention employing the voluntary use of this technology in a worksite setting.
  
  Design
  
  Volunteers were fitted with a device allowing them to monitor noise exposure under their hearing protection on a daily basis. The trends in noise exposures for individuals who completed at least six months of the intervention were analyzed.
  
  Study Sample
  
  Recruitment occurred at three manufacturing facilities, with 127 workers enrolling and 66 workers actively using the device during their work shifts.
  
  Results
  
  Among volunteers downloading regularly, the percentage of daily exposures in excess of the OSHA action level (85dBA) decreased from 14% to 8%, while the percentage of daily exposures in excess of 90dBA decreased from 4% to less than 2%.
  
  Conclusion
  
  Initial results from this longitudinal study indicate that volunteers find daily noise exposure monitoring to be feasible, and that workers who monitor daily are able to reduce exposures. The results of subject adherence shed light on the challenges and possibilities of worksite interventions for health and safety.
  
  
• Subjects:
  Adult Ear Protective Devices Environmental Monitoring Female Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced Humans Industry Longitudinal Studies Male Middle Aged Noise, Occupational Occupational Diseases Occupational Exposure Questionnaires

  More +
• Source:
  Int J Audiol. 52(0 1):S3-S8.
• Pubmed ID:
  23373740
• Pubmed Central ID:
  PMC3709598
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Funding:
  1 R01 OH008641-01A2/OH/NIOSH CDC HHS/United States ; R01 AG026291/AG/NIA NIH HHS/United States
• Name as Subject:
  United States. Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
• Place as Subject:
  United States
• Volume:
  52
• Collection(s):
  CDC Public Access
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:0145b7ff55c37e44c5e438eb1725053f270e5918ee1ed3cd8a7ac1c65315e3e4
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/29688/cdc_29688_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 377.21 KB ]