Wits Business School, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Occup Med (Lond). 2010 Jan;60(1):72-4. doi: 10.1093/occmed/kqp114. Epub 2009 Aug 10.
Occupational noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) occurs in many industries despite interventions such as hearing conservation programmes.
To determine the actual and reported use of hearing protection devices (HPDs) in noise-exposed gold mine workers and their reported knowledge, attitudes and practices relating to NIHL and HPDs.
A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in which 101 noise-exposed mine workers were interviewed and their use of HPDs observed.
Thirteen percent of respondents erroneously indicated that their workplaces were not noisy, 16% did not appreciate noise as a hearing loss hazard, 6% did not know that HPDs protect hearing and 3% believed that HPDs did not protect hearing. While 93% of respondents reported using HPDs, only 50% were observed to be doing so. Observed use was less among lower skilled workers, and, despite training, 8% of respondents claimed never to have been informed about the benefits of HPDs. Consistent and continuous use was reported by 24% and 31% of respondents, respectively. Reasons for not using HPDs included discomfort. Most respondents (57%) preferred training methods other than the current computer-assisted training.
The persistence of NIHL may be explained by limited use of HPDs, along with the suboptimal knowledge of noise as a hazard, workplace noisiness and the benefits of HPDs among some workers. Concurrent with engineering controls, a range of HPDs should be available free of charge, and HPD training reviewed particularly for lower skilled workers.
尽管采取了听力保护计划等干预措施，职业性噪声聋（NIHL）仍在许多行业中发生。
确定暴露于噪声的金矿工人实际使用和报告使用听力保护装置（HPD）的情况，以及他们对 NIHL 和 HPD 的报告知识、态度和实践。
进行了一项横断面描述性研究，对 101 名暴露于噪声的矿工进行了访谈，并观察了他们使用 HPD 的情况。
13%的受访者错误地表示他们的工作场所不嘈杂，16%的人没有意识到噪声是听力损失的危害，6%的人不知道 HPD 可以保护听力，3%的人认为 HPD 不能保护听力。虽然 93%的受访者报告使用了 HPD，但只有 50%的人被观察到这样做。低技能工人使用 HPD 的比例较低，尽管经过培训，仍有 8%的受访者声称从未被告知 HPD 的益处。分别有 24%和 31%的受访者报告了持续和连续使用。不使用 HPD 的原因包括不适。大多数受访者（57%）更喜欢除当前计算机辅助培训以外的培训方法。
NIHL 的持续存在可能是由于 HPD 的使用有限，以及一些工人对噪声作为危害、工作场所嘈杂和 HPD 益处的认识不足。除了工程控制措施外，还应免费提供各种 HPD，并特别针对低技能工人审查 HPD 培训。
