Risk Assessment of Occupational Noise-Induced Hearing Loss among Maritime Personnel of Novoship PJSC

Abstract

Background: Diseases induced by such physical factors as noise and vibration rank high in the structure of occupational disorders; their proportion increased from 36.6 % in 2004 to 51.15 % in the year 2019. Objective: To assess risks of hearing loss among the seafaring personnel of Novoship PJSC exposed to occupational noise. Materials and methods: The observation group included men with 10, 20 and 30 years of work experience. In accordance with generally accepted methods, an a priori occupational risk was determined for workers exposed to noise at workplaces in the years 2014–2016. Results: We established that the limit of the equivalent sound level of 80 dBA was exceeded by 13–16 dBA at the workplaces of mechanics, electricians, and motor mechanics of the shipping company. In accordance with R 2.2.1766–03, Guidelines on occupational risk assessment for workers’ health: Organizational and methodological aspects, principles and criteria, the health risk posed by noise exposure was moderate (significant), category 2, for mechanics and senior stokers (turners) and high (intolerable), category 2, for first-class stokers. In accordance with the Russian National Standard GOST R ISO 1999-2017, Acoustics. Estimation of noise-induced hearing loss, methodology, the probability of mild hearing loss by 26 dB (first degree of sensorineural hearing loss) in seafarers of the studied occupations at the age of 40, 50 and 60 years with a 10-year work experience years was 13.1 %, 29.7 %, and 50.4 %, respectively; the probability of moderate hearing loss by 41 dB (second degree of sensorineural hearing loss) was 0 % for the age of 40 and 50 years and 17.0 % for the age of 60 years; the probability of mild hearing loss by 26 dB at the age of 50 with a work experience of 20 and 30 years was 36.7 % and 52.2 %, at the age of 60 – 58.2 % and 72.2 %; the probability of moderate hearing loss by 41 dB for these age groups was 0 % and 23.2 % for the seafarers with 20 years of experience, 27.4 % and 44.7 % for the seafarers with 30 years of experience, respectively. Conclusion: Effective planning of measures for noise-induced occupational disease prevention requires a legislative decision on compulsory assessment of occupational risks of noise-induced hearing loss based on the results of audiometry of workers exposed to sound levels above 80 dBA within annual health checkups.