title: Potential barriers to engineered noise control in food and beverage manufacturing in British Columbia, Canada: a qualitative study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Noise is probably the most ubiquitous of occupational hazards. While many jurisdictions require hearing conservation programs (HCP), the most effective intervention-engineered noise controls (ENC)-is rarely implemented. We used a qualitative study design to investigate barriers to the implementation of ENC. DESIGN & STUDY SAMPLE: Fifty-five individuals at eight food and beverage manufacturers participated. In-depth interviews were conducted and analysed using grounded theory techniques. HCP audits provided contextual information.
  
  
  RESULTS
  None of the companies had fully implemented HCP as required by regulation. Many factors emerged as possible barriers to the implementation of engineered noise control, including: poor knowledge of relevant regulations, noise reduction options and the health impacts of noise; weak technical skills and experience; low ranking of noise as a hazard by stakeholders; issues around job insecurity, weak language skills; lack of 'quiet' machine options and information from equipment manufacturers; poor employer-regulator relationships; barriers to employee-employer reporting; informal valuation of ENC costs; and feasibility issues.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Potential barriers to the implementation of ENC were identified, and classified at three levels at which they operated. Many barriers could be addressed by a more rigorous application of existing HCP regulation and improvements in education, technical support, and regulatory enforcement.
authors.affiliation: School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. hugh.davies@ubc.ca
authors.forename: Hugh W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.forename: Amber
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Louie
authors.forename: Musarrat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nahid
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shoveller
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001955:British Columbia; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D005525:Food-Processing Industry; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006317:Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009623:Noise, Occupational / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015279:Organizational Culture; D055815:Young Adult