Impact of a hearing conservation programs on occupational noise-induced hearing loss

• Autor(a) principal: Lopes,Adalva Virgínia Couto
• Data de Publicação: 2022
• Outros Autores: Teixeira,Cleide Fernandes, Vilela,Mirella Bezerra Rodrigues, Lima,Maria Luiza Lopes Timóteo de
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Revista CEFAC (Online)
• Texto Completo: http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1516-18462022000500501
• topic: Public Health; Occupational Risks; Occupational Health Program; Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced; Prevalence

ABSTRACT 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 loss - prevention 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.