STUDY OF NOISE INDUCED HEARING LOSS AMONG INDUSTRIAL WORKERS IN RAIPUR CHHATTISGARH

Dr.Manish Jacobson Biswas; Dr Brajendra Kumar

Volume : VII, Issue : X, October - 2018

STUDY OF NOISE INDUCED HEARING LOSS AMONG INDUSTRIAL WORKERS IN RAIPUR CHHATTISGARH

Dr. Manish Jacobson Biswas, Dr Brajendra Kumar

Abstract :

Exposure to excessive noise is the major avoidable cause of permanent he� impairment. Worldwide, 16% of the disabling he� loss in adults is attributed to occupational noise, ranging from 7 to 21% in the various sub regions. Noise–induced he� loss (NIHL) is bilateral and symmetrical, usually affecting the higher frequencies (3k, 4k or 6k Hz) and then spreading to the lower frequencies (0.5k, 1k or 2k Hz). The major industries responsible for excessive noise and exposing workers to hazardous levels of noise are textile, printing, saw mills, mining, etc. In India, NIHL has been a compensable disease since 1948. Our objective of this study wasto determine whether sound in the study areas was of sufficient intensity to cause he� loss and if so whether those exposed have been affected and to determine whether workers/employees in the study areas were aware that sound can cause he� loss and if so whether they knew that this can be prevented by ear protection. One hundred and fifty workers from area A and fifty two employees from area B were selected for the study. A questionnaire was filled and had their he� thresholds measured by a pure tone audiometer machine.In both study areas the noise levels were above the safe limit of 85dB(A). In area A 28 workers and in area B eight employees had noise induced he� loss. In area A 81.1% of the workers and in area B 85% of the employees knew that noise causes he� loss. All workers/employees from both study areas knew that noise induced he� loss could be prevented by some form of ear protection. Workers/Employees exposed to noise above 85dB(A) will eventually develop he� loss.