Citation

Seppala A, Niemela E. J. Occup. Accid. 1982; 4(2-4): 295-295.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1982, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

1. The main purpose of the study was the collection of data which could be used to promote and motivate the use of ear protectors in the paper industry. The results of the study should be especially useful when instructing workers on the use of ear protectors, and when attempting to improve the design and construction of ear protectors.2. Data concerning 237 workers from a paper mill in southern Finland was collected by means of a questionnaire.3. 104 workers claimed to suffer from diagnosed hearing loss. The frequency of hearing loss reported particularly increased after 10-19 years of working in noisy surroundings, this regardless of the age of the workers. The frequency of hearing loss among workers exposed to a noise level of 95-100 dB(A) was somewhat higher than among workers exposed to either 85-90 dB(A) or 90-95 dB(A); the difference, however, was not statistically significant. The 47 workers who used ear cups experienced, e.g. following inconveniences caused by the ear cups: the cups press, they cause perspiration, they make it difficult to hear speech. 172 workers used ear plugs. The worst disadvantage to using ear plugs was the hygienic danger of wearing dirty ear plugs. As many as 183 workers occasionally worked without ear protectors. The following reasons for not using protectors were given: slight risk of hearing loss (44 %); difficult to hear instructions (42 %); perspiration (34 %); neglected putting them on (26 %); protectors forgotten somewhere (25 %).4. More attention must be paid to instructing workers on the proper use of ear protectors. They must be better informed about the risk of hearing loss when they use protectors only some of the time. More attention must also be paid to the selection, fitting and maintenance of ear protectors.