NIOSHTIC-2 Publications Search

A multi-component intervention to promote hearing protector use among construction workers.

Seixas NS; Neitzel R; Stover B; Sheppard L; Daniell B; Edelson J; Meischke H

Int J Audiol 2011 Mar; 50(Suppl 1):S46-S56

https://doi.org/10.3109/14992027.2010.525754

20038777

Hearing protection devices (HPD) remain a primary method of prevention of noise-induced hearing loss despite their well-known limitations. A three-pronged intervention to increase HPD use was conducted among construction workers and included a baseline hearing loss prevention training, follow-up 'toolbox' (TB) reinforcement trainings, and use of a personal noise level indicator (NLI). A total of 176 subjects on eight sites completed three assessments. Prior to intervention, HPDs were used an average of 34.5% of the time and increased significantly, up about 12.1% after intervention and 7.5% two months after interventions were completed. The increase in HPD use was greatest among the group receiving both TB and NLI interventions; up about 25% from baseline, and this group was about two times more likely to use HPDs than the BL (baseline) training only group. This study demonstrates the mild impact of a well-constructed HPD use training and provides support for the additional use of a personal NLI to increase use of HPDs among construction workers. The most effective procedures for using such instruments require further exploration.

Construction-industry; Construction-workers; Hearing-conservation; Hearing-protection; Noise-exposure; Noise-induced-hearing-loss; Noise-protection; Noise-sources; Personal-protective-equipment; Protective-equipment; Protective-measures; Safety-education; Safety-measures; Statistical-analysis; Training; Worker-motivation; Work-operations; Workplace-studies; Author Keywords: Hearing protectors; Construction; Hearing conservation training; Noise exposure; Hearing loss prevention; Intervention research

Noah Seixas, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, 4225 Roosevelt Way NE, Suite 100, Seattle, WA 98105

IJANGS

20110301

Journal Article

nseixas@u.washington.edu

Grant

2011

Grant-Number-R01-OH-008078; Grant-Number-T42-OH-008433

1499-2027

Construction

International Journal of Audiology

WA

University of Washington