[Research on the protective effects and influencing factors of hearing protection device in different industries]

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the current situation of the protective effect of hearing protection device (HPD) worn by manufacturing workers and discuss their possible influencing factors. Methods: A total of 3634 noisy workers were surveyed and tested. The study conducted surveys of workers on the use of HPD. The 3M(TM) E-A-R Fit(TM) binaural verification system was used to measure the personal attenuation device (PAR) of workers wearing HPD. Results: The M (Q(1), Q(3)) of baseline PAR obtained by 3634 workers was 12 (2, 19) dB. There was a statistically significant difference in baseline PAR among the three types of HPDs (H=336.39, P<0.01) . After pairwise comparison, it was found that the baseline PAR of workers wearing foam earplugs and earmuffs was higher than that of pre-molded earplugs (P<0.01) . There were differences in baseline PAR among workers in different industries (Z=359.73, P<0.01) . Education level, age of using HPD, types of HPDs, noise exposure intensity, with or without knowledge of correct methods, and comfort evaluation were the main factors affecting baseline PAR (P<0.05) . There were 1536 workers (43.4%) failed the baseline PAR test. After the intervention, the median PAR increased significantly from 1 (0, 6) dB (baseline) to 18 (14, 22) dB (after the intervention) (P<0.01) . The follow-up test found that the follow-up PAR of 328 workers was higher than the baseline PAR of the initial test, and the follow-up PAR was higher than the post-intervention PAR of the initial test (P<0.01) . Conclusion: Under the conditions of this study, the protective effect of HPD was affected by factors such as incorrect understanding of wearing methods, exposure to high-intensity noise, low education level, a short period of time of HPD use and low comfort of hearing protectors. The protective effect could be improved through training, optimizing the wearing of hearing protector models, and follow-up interventions. Enterprises should use suitability verification to ensure the correct selection and wearing of noisy workers.

Keywords: Hearing protection device; Influencing factors; Noise; Personal attenuation rating; Protection effect.