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Personal hearing protection
Safety Science, Vol. 23, No. 2/3, pp. I83- 184, 1996 Copyright 0 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd Printed in the Netherlands. All rights reserved 09257535/96 $15.00 + 0.00
SO925-7535(96100053-7
PERSONAL HEARING PROTECTION A. S&gio S.R. Miguel Universidade do Minho, Campus de Azurem, P-4800 GuimaBes, Portugal
A training project aimed at personal hearing protection was undertaken in a population of almost fifty exposed workers at a chipboard based products plant. The main objective of this project was the motivation for the use of hearing protection devices. The percentage of hearing protection users was about 30%, before the beginning of the project. It was admitted that the modification of behavior towards health and safety and the consequent use of personal equipment could be achieved by an adequate hearing conservation program. A previous enquiry considering the causes for the non use of hearing protection devices was undertaken. A prospective study of hearing protector efficiency involving six workers (three males and three females) was promoted. Two types of hearing protection devices were used: ear muffs and foam plugs. The noise measurements were made at the worker’s ear level and the collected data ranged between 96 and 102 dB(A). The characterization of the change in hearing level due to age and noise exposure was based on the mathematical model put forward in IS0 1999 (1990) standard. Training sessions for all the workers, including basic concepts of noise and hearing protection, were conducted during working hours. Finally, an audiometric program on a yearly basis was initiated by the Plant Occupational Health Service, who coordinated the whole program. The workers were also informed about their eventual hearing losses. The results of the enquiry showed the following distribution of causes for the non use of hearing protection: general disturbances unfavorable environment misinterpretation of messages or signals excessive pressure non specified causes
29.2% 20.0% 18.5% 12.3% 20.0%
After a four years period it could be demonstrated that no significant difference ((Y= 0.05) between expected hearing threshold changes (without noise and according to IS0 1999 standard) and hearing threshold changes (using hearing protectors) was detected. The percentage of hearing protection users raised in the referred period to ca 70%. The following conclusions can be settled: * a training program associated to awareness of health related problems (hypoacusia in this case) is decisive for avoiding the progression of eventual diseases; 183
184
A.S.S.R. Miguel
- a prospective study allows the evaluation of a training project effkiency; additionally the difference in percentage between personal protection users before and after the training program is also a good indicator; education and motivation of the employees, as well as the comfort of hearing protectors, induce their correct use, which is a basic factor for the hearing conservation. l
SO925-7535(96100053-7
PERSONAL HEARING PROTECTION A. S&gio S.R. Miguel Universidade do Minho, Campus de Azurem, P-4800 GuimaBes, Portugal
A training project aimed at personal hearing protection was undertaken in a population of almost fifty exposed workers at a chipboard based products plant. The main objective of this project was the motivation for the use of hearing protection devices. The percentage of hearing protection users was about 30%, before the beginning of the project. It was admitted that the modification of behavior towards health and safety and the consequent use of personal equipment could be achieved by an adequate hearing conservation program. A previous enquiry considering the causes for the non use of hearing protection devices was undertaken. A prospective study of hearing protector efficiency involving six workers (three males and three females) was promoted. Two types of hearing protection devices were used: ear muffs and foam plugs. The noise measurements were made at the worker’s ear level and the collected data ranged between 96 and 102 dB(A). The characterization of the change in hearing level due to age and noise exposure was based on the mathematical model put forward in IS0 1999 (1990) standard. Training sessions for all the workers, including basic concepts of noise and hearing protection, were conducted during working hours. Finally, an audiometric program on a yearly basis was initiated by the Plant Occupational Health Service, who coordinated the whole program. The workers were also informed about their eventual hearing losses. The results of the enquiry showed the following distribution of causes for the non use of hearing protection: general disturbances unfavorable environment misinterpretation of messages or signals excessive pressure non specified causes
29.2% 20.0% 18.5% 12.3% 20.0%
After a four years period it could be demonstrated that no significant difference ((Y= 0.05) between expected hearing threshold changes (without noise and according to IS0 1999 standard) and hearing threshold changes (using hearing protectors) was detected. The percentage of hearing protection users raised in the referred period to ca 70%. The following conclusions can be settled: * a training program associated to awareness of health related problems (hypoacusia in this case) is decisive for avoiding the progression of eventual diseases; 183
184
A.S.S.R. Miguel
- a prospective study allows the evaluation of a training project effkiency; additionally the difference in percentage between personal protection users before and after the training program is also a good indicator; education and motivation of the employees, as well as the comfort of hearing protectors, induce their correct use, which is a basic factor for the hearing conservation. l