title: Noise as an explanatory factor in work-related fatality reports.
abstract: Noise exposure in the workplace is a common reality in Québec, Canada as it is elsewhere. However, the extent to which noise acts as a causal or contributive factor in industrial work-related accidents has not been studied thoroughly despite its plausibility. This article aims to describe the importance or potential importance, during investigations looking into the specific causes of each work-related fatal accident, of noise as an explanatory factor. The written information contained in the accident reports pertaining to contextual and technical elements were used. The study used multiple case qualitative content analysis. This descriptive study was based on the content analysis of the 788 reports from the Commission de la santé et de la sécurité du travail du Québec [Workers' Compensation Board (WCB)] investigating the fatal work-related accidents between 1990 and 2005. The study was descriptive (number and percentages). Noise was explicitly stated as one of the explanatory factors for the fatal outcome in 2.2% (17/788) of the fatal accidents, particularly when the work involved vehicular movement or the need to communicate between workers. Noise was not typically considered a unique cause in the accident, notably because the investigators considered that the accident would have probably occurred due to other risk factors (for example, disregard of safety rules, shortcomings in work methods, and inadequate training). Noise is an important risk factor when communication is involved in work. Since noise is ubiquitous and may also interfere with vigilance and other risk factors for accidents, it may be a much more important contributing factor to accidents than is currently recognized.
authors.affiliation: Occupational Health Unit, Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec, Québec; Direction de Sante Publique de Chaudière-Appalaches, Sainte-Marie; Département Clinique de Santé Publique, Centre Hospitalier Affilié Universitaire Hôtel-Dieu de Lévis, Lévis; Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Université Laval, Canada.
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Deshaies
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Danny
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Belzile
authors.forename: Pauline
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fortier
authors.forename: Chantal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Laroche
authors.forename: Tony
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Leroux
authors.forename: Hugues
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nélisse
authors.forename: Serge-André
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Girard
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Arcand
authors.forename: Maurice
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Poulin
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Picard
mesh_terms: D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015984:Causality; D003142:Communication; D006801:Humans; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009622:Noise / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis / Q000517:prevention & control; D011792:Quebec; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D017132:Workplace / Q000592:standards*