Determining the effect of worker exposure conditions on the risk of hearing loss in noisy industrial workroom using Cox proportional hazard model.
In noisy workrooms, exposure conditions such as noise level, exposure duration and use of hearing protection devices are contributory factors to hearing loss. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of exposure conditions on the risk of hearing loss using the Cox model. Seventy workers, employed in a press workshop, were selected to study their hearing threshold using an audiometric test. Their noise exposure histories also were analyzed. The results of the Cox model showed that the job type, smoking and the use of protection devices were effective to induce hearing loss. The relative risk of hearing loss in smokers was 1.1 times of non-smokers The relative risk of hearing loss in workers with the intermittent use of protection devices was 3.3 times those who used these devices continuously. The Cox model could analyze the effect of exposure conditions on hearing loss and provides useful information for managers in order to improve hearing conservation programs.
a Hamadan University of Medical Science , Iran.
Mohsen
M
Aliabadi
Mohammad
M
Fereidan
Maryam
M
Farhadian
Leila
L
Tajik
D001299:Audiometry; D004430:Ear Protective Devices; D005260:Female; D006317:Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007221:Industry; D008297:Male; D009623:Noise, Occupational / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016272:Occupational Health; D009790:Occupations; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology
Cox model; noise exposure conditions; noise induced hearing loss