Division of Community Health and Humanities, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, Canada.
Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, Canada.
Front Public Health. 2023 Apr 17;11:1092350. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1092350. eCollection 2023.
Noise is a significant health hazard for fish harvesters. Chronic exposure to hazardous noise levels of 85 dB (A) for an 8-h work shift can have adverse health impacts, including both auditory and non-auditory health problems such as noise-induced hearing loss, stress, hypertension, sleeping disorders, and impaired cognitive performance.
A review of legislation and policies governing workplace noise exposure, as well as qualitative, semi-structured interviews, were conducted to assess how fish harvesters in Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) manage onboard occupational noise exposure and perceive noise-induced health problems, as well as the barriers and challenges associated with preventing and controlling noise exposure.
The legal review shows no compulsory noise preventive measure at the fishing vessel design stage in Canada. Limited implementation of to control and prevent onboard noise by employers in Newfoundland and Labrador. Fishers reported that their workplace is noisy. Over time, fish harvesters adapted to the environment and learned to tolerate loud noise, displaying fatalistic behavior. Fish harvesters reported avoiding using hearing protection onboard due to navigation safety concerns. Fishers reported hearing loss as well as other non-auditory health problems. Inadequate noise control measures adopted by employers, a limited supply of hearing protection onboard, and a lack of regular hearing testing, training, and education were identified as the main barriers to preventing and controlling noise exposure.
Proper implementation of NL and the development of hearing conservation initiatives by employers are necessary. All stakeholders, including the federal and provincial governments, WorkplaceNL, and not-for-profit fishing organizations in the province, are strongly recommended to initiate training and education campaigns to help fish harvesters understand noise exposure and adopt preventive measures.
噪音是渔业捕捞者的一个重大健康危害。在 8 小时的工作班次中，持续暴露于 85dB（A）的危险噪声水平下可能会对健康产生不利影响，包括听觉和非听觉健康问题，如噪声性听力损失、压力、高血压、睡眠障碍和认知能力下降。
审查了有关工作场所噪声暴露的立法和政策，以及进行了定性、半结构化访谈，以评估纽芬兰和拉布拉多（NL）的渔业捕捞者如何管理船上的职业噪声暴露并感知噪声引起的健康问题，以及与预防和控制噪声暴露相关的障碍和挑战。
法律审查显示加拿大在渔船设计阶段没有强制性的噪声预防措施。纽芬兰和拉布拉多的雇主对控制和预防船上噪声的实施有限。渔民报告说他们的工作场所噪音很大。随着时间的推移，渔业捕捞者适应了环境并学会了忍受大声的噪音，表现出宿命论的行为。渔业捕捞者报告说，由于航行安全问题，他们在船上避免使用听力保护。渔民报告听力损失以及其他非听觉健康问题。雇主采取的噪声控制措施不足、船上听力保护装置有限以及缺乏定期听力测试、培训和教育被确定为预防和控制噪声暴露的主要障碍。
有必要正确执行 NL 并由雇主制定听力保护计划。强烈建议所有利益相关者，包括联邦和省政府、WorkplaceNL 以及该省的非营利渔业组织，启动培训和教育活动，帮助渔业捕捞者了解噪声暴露并采取预防措施。
