O-66 The Prevalence of Occupational Noise-Induced Hearing Loss among Power Plant Workers in Georgetown Guyana
Author(s):
A Blair, A Richmond, K Niles, K Brush, L Robinson, R Pennock, M Villareal, E Cummings
Year of Presentation:
2023
Objective: To create awareness and assess the prevalence and risk factors that contribute to ONIHL among power plant workers of Power Producers and Distributors Inc. (PPDI)
Methods: A pretested questionnaire was self-administered to 74 power plant workers with a minimum of 2 years’ experience between the ages of 21 to 55 years. A Tatedo sound level meter was used to measure of the noise levels in the Power Plant. Analysis of the data was done with the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23 in conjunction with Microsoft Excel.
Results: Participants had a average age of 49 years, with the overall prevalence of ONIHL of 31.1% with an average age of exposure to noise being 20 years as compared to 7.5 years in those who were not classified with ONIHL. A total of 39 % had 10 years of exposure while 52 % were exposed between 11 to 25 years and 8.6 % greater than 25 years. Among the risk factors that contributed to ONIHL were advanced age, high working area noise level, and prolonged working experience among. others
Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that noise induced hearing loss is prevalent among noise exposed workers at PPDI. The measured noise levels were found to be higher than the WHO acceptable limit of 85 decibels. Preventative measures include proper utilization of hearing devices engineering controls among others.