Occupational Noise Exposure and Hearing Loss of Workers in Two Plants in Eastern Saudi Arabia

Ahmed, Hafsa; Dennis, John; Badran, O.; Ismail, Marzuki; Ballal, Seifeddin G.; Ashoor, Abdul Aziz; Jerwood, D.

doi:10.1093/annhyg/45.5.371

Cited by 46 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…We found that hearing loss was significantly higher in the workers exposed to noise than in the control group consistent with the findings of Neitzel et al [31] and Ologe et al [19], Leensen et al [10], Ahmed et al [32], Osibogun et al [33], and Shakhatreh et al [34]. We found the highest frequency of threshold change in the workers with the highest exposure to noise who were working in mixing, grinding, and ball mill.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Effect of Workplace Noise on Hearing Ability in Tile and Ceramic Industry Workers in Iran: A 2-Year Follow-Up Study

Mostaghaci

Mirmohammadi

Mehrparvar

et al. 2013

The Scientific World Journal

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Introduction. Noise as a common physical hazard may lead to noise-induced hearing loss, an irreversible but preventable disorder. Annual audiometric evaluations help detect changes in hearing status before clinically significant hearing loss develops. This study was designed to track hearing threshold changes during 2-year follow-up among tile and ceramic workers. Methods. This follow-up study was conducted on 555 workers (totally 1110 ears). Subjects were divided into four groups according to the level of noise exposure. Hearing threshold in conventional audiometric frequencies was measured and standard threshold shift was calculated for each ear. Results. Hearing threshold was increased during 2 years of follow-up. Increased hearing threshold was most frequently observed at 4000, 6000, and 3000 Hz. Standard threshold shift was observed in 13 (2.34%), 49 (8.83%), 22 (3.96%), and 63 (11.35%) subjects in the first and second years of follow-up in the right and left ears, respectively. Conclusions. This study has documented a high incidence of noise-induced hearing loss in tile and ceramic workers that would put stress on the importance of using hearing protection devices.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Effect of Workplace Noise on Hearing Ability in Tile and Ceramic Industry Workers in Iran: A 2-Year Follow-Up Study

Mostaghaci

Mirmohammadi

Mehrparvar

et al. 2013

The Scientific World Journal

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“…Inconsistent use of hearing protection is an issue not limited to developing countries[321–24] where poor availability of such protection[23] compounds the problem, but is also observed in the developed world,[25–27] despite easy availability at the workplace.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The fact that “always” use of earplugs protects hearing, but using them “sometimes” is in practice similar to non-use,[3] explaining the prevalence of NIHL in such settings where any level of compliance less than complete is unlikely to confer protection from auditory effects of noise. The reasons for non-compliance uncovered by our study, which mainly include discomfort and interference in effective communication, are similar to those reported by other studies.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The reasons for non-compliance uncovered by our study, which mainly include discomfort and interference in effective communication, are similar to those reported by other studies. [325] An additional reason for non-compliance is the component of temporary threshold shift; when workers get through the first few weeks of exposure, they often feel as though they have “got used” to the noise. But, what has most likely happened is that they have started to incur a temporary hearing loss, which impairs their hearing during the workday and usually subsides during the night, but which, upon repeated exposures, leads to NIHL.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…[2] Studies of noise-exposed workforce have found NIHL in about 40% of the workers, the prevalence ranging between 19% and 56%. [34] It is seen largely in the manufacturing industry, particularly the shipbuilding industry; the latter is notoriously known to be one of the noisiest. [5] The Indian Factories Act (1996 amendment) lists NIHL as a notifiable and compensatable disease.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Noise-Induced Hearing Loss Still a Problem in Shipbuilders: A Cross-Sectional Study in Goa, India

Bhumika

Prabhu²,

et al. 2013

Ann Med Health Sci Res

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Background:Workplace safety regulations seek to mitigate noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), conventionally associated with the shipbuilding industry. Despite this, are workers still predisposed to NIHL?Aims:To study the prevalence of NIHL among noise-exposed subjects in the shipbuilding industry in Goa and to compare it with that among the non-exposed population working in the same industry in relation to certain relevant factors.Subjects and Methods:This is a cross-sectional study in the shipbuilding industry, Goa This study examined 552 workers: 276 shipbuilders and 276 office staff, of similar age, duration of employment and socio-economic status working at a shipbuilding enterprise. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was followed by audiometry. Values were presented as percentages, Mean (SD) and odds ratio (OR) and its 95% confidence interval (CI) (Woolfe's method). Fisher's exact test and binary logistic regression were used. P value of < 0.05 was taken as significant. SPSS version 16 was used.Results:NIHL was found in 17 (6%) shipbuilders, while no office staff was detected to have this condition (OR = 37.29, 95% CI 22.42-62.18). The shipbuilders with NIHL were 52.5 years of age and had been employed for 30.4 years, on an average. None of the 17 cases of NIHL were found to be using earplugs consistently; 11 reported using them “sometimes” and six “never” used them.Conclusions:NIHL continues to affect shipbuilders, owing their non-compliance to workplace regulation. Health education is the need of the hour.

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Prevalence and determinants of noise‐induced hearing loss among workers in the automotive industry in China: A pilot study

Chen

Zhang

Qiu

et al. 2019

Journal of Occupational Health

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Objective Data on noise‐induced hearing loss (NIHL) in the automotive industry are rare. This pilot study aimed to investigate the prevalence and determinants of NIHL among workers in the automotive industry in China. Methods A cross‐sectional survey was conducted with 6557 participants from the automotive industry. The questionnaire survey was administered, and individual noise exposure level (LAeq.8h) and hearing loss level were measured. Results Of participants, 96.43% were male; the median age was 27.0 years and 28.82% had NIHL defined as adjusted high‐frequency noise‐induced hearing loss (AHFNIHL). Concerning individual noise levels (LAeq.8h), 62.53% exceeded 85 dB(A), which were mainly concentrated in various jobs, including metal cutting, surface treatment, stamping, welding, grinding, assembly, plastic molding, and forging. Each typical noise source generated its own unique temporal waveform shape with the type of non‐Gaussian noise. Of workers, 53.15% regularly used hearing protector devices (HPD), and the proportion of regular HPD use increased with LAeq.8h. The trend test showed that the prevalence of AHFNIHL in male workers significantly increased with an increase in LAeq.8h at <94 dB(A) and cumulative noise exposure (CNE) in each age group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). A logistic regression analysis showed that CNE and HPD usage frequency were important factors contributing to AHFNIHL. Conclusions CNE and HPD usage frequency were the determinants for NIHL. Much more human surveys are needed to understand the prevalence and determinants of NIHL in the automotive industry in China.

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Occupational Noise Exposure and Hearing Loss of Workers in Two Plants in Eastern Saudi Arabia

Abstract: Gross occupational exposure to noise has been demonstrated to cause hearing loss and the authors believe that occupational hearing loss in Saudi Arabia is a widespread problem. Strategies of noise assessment and control are introduced which may help improve the work environment.

Cited by 46 publications

References 22 publications

Effect of Workplace Noise on Hearing Ability in Tile and Ceramic Industry Workers in Iran: A 2-Year Follow-Up Study

Effect of Workplace Noise on Hearing Ability in Tile and Ceramic Industry Workers in Iran: A 2-Year Follow-Up Study

Noise-Induced Hearing Loss Still a Problem in Shipbuilders: A Cross-Sectional Study in Goa, India

Prevalence and determinants of noise‐induced hearing loss among workers in the automotive industry in China: A pilot study

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