Hearing status and noise exposure levels of workers at a laundry plant in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Purpose The aim of this study was to determine the hearing status and noise exposure levels of workers at a laundry plant in Sri Lanka. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional study was done to determine the noise levels workers were exposed to during their shifts, to evaluate hearing-related complaints, to evaluate audiometric measures of the workers, and lastly to determine the association between the job category and hearing status. The study included 107 workers between the age of 20~50 years. Noise levels of the laundry plant were measured and data was gathered via an interviewer-administered questionnaire and screening and diagnostic hearing tests were performed. Results The minimum and maximum noise levels were 63.1 dBA and 100.3 dBA. Among workers, 40.18% indicated abnormal audiograms. Among those who had abnormal audiograms, 31.77% were diagnosed with noise induced hearing loss (NIHL) in the right ear while 28.03% had NIHL in the left ear. Conclusion There was no significant association between the degree of hearing loss and exposure duration of the workers as well as hearing status with reference to the job category. However, the workers in the dryer and hydro sections were at high risk for NIHL, as the mean Leq levels at the laundry plant exceeded the 85 dBA action level recommended by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Hence it can be concluded that laundry plants are hazardous occupational settings for hearing loss, thus preventive measures, such as hearing conservation programs must be adopted for the well-being of workers.