Purpose: to analyze the impact of a Hearing Conservation Program on occupational noise-induced hearing loss in a metallurgical plant. Methods: a longitudinal case study (2003-2018) was carried out and a Hearing Conservation Program assessed with interviews and document verification. The assessment also included 2,350 audiometric examinations and occupational noise exposure of 152 Hearing Conservation Program -participating employees, collecting the data from the company's database. Results: high compliance indices regarding occupational noise -induced hearing lossprevention Hearing Conservation Program practices were found between 2003 and 2018. The comparison between 2018 and 2003 showed a reduced number of workers exposed to noise at 85 dB(A) or above. The final prevalence of audiometric changes suggestive of occupational noise-induced hearing loss that remained in degree I differed from the initial one in the period. The high Hearing Conservation Program percentages and low occupational noise-induced hearing loss indicators point to an inverse relationship between them. Conclusion: the results suggest a positive impact of a Hearing Conservation Program on occupational noise-induced hearing loss in this metallurgical plant, in the period studied.
Purpose: to validate indicators and parameters to construct an assessment instrument for the Hearing Conservation Program. Methods: methodological research to validate the content and layout of indicators to assess the Hearing Conservation Program, using the Delphi method, as well as the semantic validation of an assessment instrument for the program, in compliance with the procedures used by the European group DISABKIDS. A total of 20 speech-language-hearing therapists participated in the study, answering validation questionnaires. The answers were tabulated and analyzed considering descriptive statistical data, establishing the item content validity index, the scale content validity index, the percentage of absolute agreement, and the content analysis. Results: of the 64 items submitted for validation, two were not considered appropriate. The set of items was considered representative. The validated indicators and parameters provided the means to construct an assessment instrument of the degree of implementation of the Hearing Conservation Program, which proved to be semantically valid. Conclusion: the indicators were validated to meet and represent the functions of quality, control, and follow-up of the Hearing Conservation Program, aiding administrators to carry out their responsibilities and making it possible to construct evaluative instruments.
Purpose: to assess the implementation of hearing conservation programs in two large companies. Methods: an evaluative research that analyzed a type 1b implementation. The study was conducted in three stages, namely: establishing the company’s degree of implementation, analyzing the companies’ policies and structures, and lastly, analyzing the influence of the companies’ policies and structures on their degree of implementation. The following analyses were conducted to collect data: interviews, document analysis, and observation. Results: the hearing conservation program in Company A was classified as implemented (91.1%), while in Company B, it was partially implemented (62.7%). The context in Company A was favorable to implementing the program, whereas in Company B, the context was considered unfavorable, due to disadvantageous categories. Also, the characteristics of the implementation context influenced the placement of the program either positively or negatively. Conclusion: there were satisfactory results regarding the implementation of the hearing conservation program in both companies assessed.
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