Safety climate, hearing climate and hearing protection device use among transportation road maintainers

Advancing noise management in aviation: Strategic approaches for preventing noise-induced hearing loss

As urbanization and population growth escalate, the challenge of noise pollution intensifies, particularly within the aviation industry. This review examines current insights into noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) in aviation, highlighting the risks to pilots, cabin crew, aircraft maintenance engineers, and ground staff from continuous exposure to high-level noise. It evaluates existing noise management and hearing conservation strategies, identifying key obstacles and exploring new technological solutions. While progress in developing protective devices and noise control technologies is evident, gaps in their widespread implementation persist. The study underscores the need for an integrated strategy combining regulatory compliance, technological advances, and targeted educational efforts. It advocates for global collaboration and policy development to safeguard the auditory health of aviation workers and proposes a strategic framework to enhance hearing conservation practices within the unique challenges of the aviation sector.

The influencing factors of hearing protection device usage among noise-exposed workers in Guangdong Province: a structural equation modeling-based survey

BACKGROUND

There are numerous complex barriers and facilitators to continuously wearing hearing protection devices (HPDs) for noise-exposed workers. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the relationship between HPD wearing behavior and hearing protection knowledge and attitude, HPD wearing comfort, and work-related factors.

METHOD

A cross-sectional study was conducted with 524 noise-exposed workers in manufacturing enterprises in Guangdong Province, China. Data were collected on hearing protection knowledge and attitudes, HPD wearing comfort and behavior, and work-related factors through a questionnaire. Using structural equation modeling (SEM), we tested the association among the study variables.

RESULTS

Among the total workers, 69.47% wore HPD continuously, and the attitudes of hearing protection (26.17 ± 2.958) and total HPD wearing comfort (60.13 ± 8.924) were satisfactory, while hearing protection knowledge (3.54 ± 1.552) was not enough. SEM revealed that hearing protection knowledge had direct effects on attitudes (β = 0.333, p < 0.01) and HPD wearing behavior (β = 0.239, p < 0.01), and the direct effect of total HPD wearing comfort on behavior was β = 0.157 (p < 0.01). The direct effect also existed between work shifts and behavior (β=-0.107, p < 0.05). Indirect relationships mainly existed between other work-related factors, hearing protection attitudes, and HPD wearing behavior through knowledge. Meanwhile, work operation had a direct and negative effect on attitudes (β=-0.146, p < 0.05), and it can also indirectly and positively affect attitudes through knowledge (β = 0.08, p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The behavior of wearing HPD was influenced by hearing protection knowledge, comfort in wearing HPD, and work-related factors. The results showed that to improve the compliance of noise-exposed workers wearing HPD continuously when exposed to noise, the HPD wearing comfort and work-related factors must be taken into consideration. In addition, we evaluated HPD wearing comfort in physical and functional dimensions, and this study initially verified the availability of the questionnaire scale of HPD wearing comfort.

A Systematic Literature Review of the Factors Influencing Hearing Protection Device Usage among Industrial Workers

This systematic literature review (SLR) aims to determine the factors influencing the use of hearing protection devices (HPDs) among industrial workers. This study was guided by the PRISMA Statement (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses) review method, and four databases comprising Scopus, Science Direct, PubMed, Wiley Online Library, and Google Scholar were employed. A total of 196 articles were identified, and 28 studies on the factors associated with HPD use among industrial workers from 2006 to 2021 met the inclusion criteria. Resultantly, five main themes emerged from this review: sociodemographic (29%), interpersonal influences (18%), situational influences (18%), cognitive-perceptual (29%), and health-promoting behavior (6%) associated with HPD use among industrial workers. A total of 17 sub-themes were identified, including age, gender, educational level, noise level, working experience, social models, interpersonal support, social norms, safety climate, training, organizational support, perceived barrier, perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefit, self-efficacy, and cues to action. The significant factors influencing workers to use HPDs are sociodemographic, interpersonal influences, situational influences, and health-promoting behavior. Future studies should focus on the cues to action toward human behavior influencing the use of HPDs, workers' health status, and comorbidities of hearing loss. Therefore, this systematic study gives valuable reference resources for up-and-coming researchers as well as new knowledge to expert professionals and academics in various industries.

Precarious Work Schedules and Sleep: A Study of Unionized Full-Time Workers

Unlike precarious employment which is temporary and insecure, with inadequate pay, benefits, and legal protections, precarious work schedules can affect workers with permanent full-time jobs in sectors where employment has historically been secure, well-compensated, and even unionized. Precarious work schedules - characterized by long shifts, non-daytime hours, intensity and unsocial work hours - are increasingly prevalent. Relations between precarious work schedules and poor health are not well understood, and less is known about how to attenuate this relation. We examined the indirect effects of precarious work schedules on fatigue and depressive symptoms through sleep quantity. Two moderators - schedule flexibility and sleep quality - were examined as buffers of these associations. Workers from the Departments of Correction and Transportation in a northeast state (N = 222) took surveys and reported on demographics, work schedule characteristics, schedule flexibility, sleep quality and quantity, fatigue, and depressive symptoms. Results revealed that precarious work schedules had indirect effects on fatigue and depressive symptoms through sleep quantity. Schedule flexibility moderated the relation between precarious work schedules and sleep quantity, such that workers with greater schedule flexibility had more hours of sleep. Sleep quality moderated the association between sleep quantity and fatigue and depressive symptoms, such that workers reported greater fatigue and depressive symptoms when they had poorer sleep quality. Findings have direct applicability for developing initiatives that enhance Total Worker Health® through individual and organizational changes.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s41542-022-00114-y.

Prevalence of hearing protection device non-use among noise-exposed US workers in 2007 and 2014

BACKGROUND

This study estimated the prevalence of hearing protection device (HPD) non-use among US workers exposed to hazardous workplace noise and provided risk estimates.

METHODS

Self-reported data from the National Health Interview Survey in 2007 (15,852 workers) and 2014 (23,656 workers) were examined. Weighted prevalence and adjusted prevalence ratios of HPD non-use (using HPDs half the time or less when exposed to hazardous noise) were estimated by demographic, industry, and occupation. Differences in the prevalences of non-use were estimated and compared.

RESULTS

The prevalence of HPD non-use was 53% among all noise-exposed workers in 2014. Workers in the Accommodation and Food Services industry had the highest prevalence (90%) and risk (PR: 2.47, 95% confidence interval: 1.54-3.96) of HPD non-use. The industries with the lowest prevalences of noise exposure, including Finance and Insurance (2%) and Health Care and Social Assistance (4%), had some of the highest prevalences of HPD non-use (80% and 83%, respectively). There were no statistically significant changes in HPD non-use among industries between 2007 and 2014. Among occupations, HPD non-use increased 37% in Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media, and decreased 39% in Architecture and Engineering.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of HPD non-use remains high; especially within industries and occupations with fewer noise-exposed workers. These groups need targeted attention to increase awareness and compliance. Employers should require HPD use and trainings among noise-exposed workers and provide an assortment of HPDs tailored to noise level and type, workplace environment, communication and audibility needs, and individual comfort and convenience.

Evaluation of the HearWell Pilot Program: A Participatory Total Worker Health® Approach to Hearing Conservation

Our objective was to pilot test HearWell, an intervention created to preserve hearing among highway maintainers, by using a participatory Total Worker Health^® (TWH) approach to designing, implementing and evaluating interventions. Regional maintenance garages were randomized to control (n = 6); HearWell (n = 4) or HearWell Design Team (n = 2) arms. Maintainer representatives from the HearWell Design Team garages identified barriers to hearing health and collaborated to design interventions including a safety leadership training for managers, a noise hazard management scheme to identify noise levels and indicate the hearing protection device (HPD) needed, and a comprehensive HearWell training video and protocol. These worker-designed interventions, after manager input, were delivered to the HearWell Design Team and the HearWell garages. Control garages received standard industry hearing conservation training. Periodic surveys of workers in all 12 garages collected information on the frequency of HPD use and a new hearing climate measure to evaluate changes in behaviors and attitudes over the study period and following interventions. An intention-to-treat approach was utilized; differences and trends in group HPD use and hearing climate were analyzed using a mixed-effects model to account for repeated measures from individual participants. The HearWell Design Team maintainers reported the highest frequency of HPD use. Hearing climate improved in each group 6 months following intervention implementation, with the largest increase and highest value for the HearWell Design Team workers. The HearWell pilot intervention showed promising results in improving HPD use through a participatory TWH approach to hearing conservation. Furthermore, results suggest that employee participation in hearing conservation programs may be necessary for maximal effectiveness.

Workplace noise exposure and the prevalence and 10-year incidence of age-related hearing loss

There is paucity of population-based data on occupational noise exposure and risk of age-related hearing loss. Therefore, we assessed cross-sectional and longitudinal associations of past workplace noise exposure with hearing loss in older adults. At baseline, 1923 participants aged 50+ years with audiological and occupational noise exposure data included for analysis. The pure-tone average of frequencies 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 4.0 kHz (PTA_0.5-4KHz) >25 dB HL in the better ear, established the presence of hearing loss. Participants reported exposure to workplace noise, and the severity and duration of this exposure. Prior occupational noise exposure was associated with a 2-fold increased odds of moderate-to-severe hearing loss: multivariable-adjusted OR 2.35 (95% CI 1.45–3.79). Exposure to workplace noise for >10 years increased the odds of having any hearing loss (OR 2.39, 95% CI 1.37–4.19) and moderate-to-severe hearing loss (OR 6.80, 95% CI 2.97–15.60). Among participants reporting past workplace noise exposure at baseline the 10-year incidence of hearing loss was 35.5% versus 29.1% in those who had no workplace noise exposure. Workplace noise exposure was associated with a greater risk of incident hearing loss during the 10-year follow-up: multivariable-adjusted OR 1.39 (95% CI 1.13–1.71). Prior occupational noise exposure was not associated with hearing loss progression. Workplace noise exposure increased the risk of incident hearing loss in older adults. Our findings underscore the importance of preventive measures which diminish noise exposure in the workplace, which could potentially contribute towards reducing the burden of hearing loss in later life.

Development and application of a noise-hazard scheme for road maintainers

BACKGROUND

Transportation road maintenance and repair workers, or "maintainers," are exposed to hazardous and variable noise levels and often rely on hearing protection devices (HPD) to reduce noise-exposure levels. We aimed to improve upon HPD use as part of the HearWell program that used a Total Worker Health, participatory approach to hearing conservation.

METHODS

Full-shift, personal noise sampling was performed during the routine task of brush cutting. Work activities and equipment were recorded and combined with 1-min noise measures to summarize personal noise-exposure levels by equipment. Using noise-monitoring results, HPD noise reduction ratings, and input from worker-based design teams, a noise-hazard scheme was developed and applied to the task and equipment used during brush cutting.

RESULTS

Average (standard deviation) and maximum L_eq 1-minute, personal noise-exposure levels recorded during brush cutting included chainsaws at 92.1 (7.6) and max of 111 dBA, leaf blowers at 91.2 (7.5) and max 107 dBA, and wood chipper at 90.3 (7.3) and max of 104 dBA. The worker-designed noise-hazard scheme breaks down noise exposures into one of three color bands and exposure ranges: red (over 105 dBA), orange (90-105 dBA), or yellow (85-90 dBA). The scheme simplifies the identification of noise levels, assessment of noise-hazard, and choice of appropriate hearing protection for workers.

CONCLUSION

Combining noise-exposure assessment with intervention development using participatory methods, we characterized noise exposure and developed an intervention to educate and assist in protecting workers as they perform noisy tasks.