Firefighters??? Hearing: A Comparison With Population Databases From the International Standards Organization

Kales, Stefanos N.; Freyman, Richard L.; Hill, Jeoffrey M.; Polyhronopoulos, Gerry N.; Aldrich, Jon M.; Christiani, David C.

doi:10.1097/00043764-200107000-00013

Cited by 37 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…Noise is ubiquitous in occupational settings and is the leading cause of acquired hearing loss among working adults, including firefighters (Kales et al, 2001). A recent review of ten studies on noise exposure among firefighters (Taxini and Guida, 2014) reported that 50% of the studies confirmed noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) among firefighters, and 37% considered firefighters to be a population at risk for NIHL.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…CVD and strokes were responsible for 41 of 83 (49%) occupational fatalities among firefighters in 2012 (USFA, 2013). Noise exposures have not been well-studied among firefighters, but the limited existing data suggest that exposures may be widespread (Tubbs, 1995), specifically during emergency response and training operations (Kales et al, 2001; Neitzel et al, 2013). Neitzel et al (2013) demonstrated potential for exposure >85 dBA, the full-shift Time-Weighted Average (TWA) limit recommended by the US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), and found that the highest levels were associated with saws and pneumatic chisels (Neitzel et al, 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Injury Risk and Noise Exposure in Firefighter Training Operations

Neitzel¹,

Long²,

Sun³

et al. 2015

ANNHYG

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Introduction Firefighters have high rate of injuries and illnesses, as well as exposures to high levels of noise. This study explored the relationship between noise exposure and injury among firefighters. Methods We recruited firefighters undergoing vehicle extrication and structural collapse emergency response training at a highly realistic training facility. Demographics, health status, body mass index, and history of serious injuries (i.e., injuries requiring first aid treatment, treatment in a medical clinic or office, or treatment at a hospital) were assessed at baseline, and daily activities, injury events, and near-misses were assessed daily using surveys. Participants' noise exposures were monitored for one 24-hour period using noise dosimeters. We used a mixed-effects logistic regression model to estimate the odds of injury events and near-misses associated with noise exposure as an independent variable. Results Of 56 subjects, twenty (36%) reported that they had ever suffered a serious injury during firefighting activities, and nine (16%) reported a serious injury within the past year. We estimated rates of 6.6 lifetime serious injuries per 100 FTE 16.1 serious injuries per 100 FTE within the past year. Our models indicated a significant increase in injury events and near misses among those with higher BMI, and as well as a dose-response relationship between near-misses/injuries and increasing noise levels. Noise levels >90 dBA in the 30 min prior to time of injury or near-miss were associated with substantially increased odds ratios for injury or near-miss. Our models further indicated that perceived job demands were significantly associated with increased risk of injury or near-miss. Conclusion Our results suggest that noise exposures may need to be incorporated into injury prevention programs for firefighters to reduce injuries among this high-risk occupational group.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Injury Risk and Noise Exposure in Firefighter Training Operations

Neitzel¹,

Long²,

Sun³

et al. 2015

ANNHYG

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…NIHL has been shown to have a profound impact on affected individuals, primarily through the social handicap resulting from inability to comprehend speech (Passchier-Vermeer and Passchier 2000), and has been linked to depression, anger, social withdrawal, and other adverse quality of life outcomes (Hetu, Getty et al 1995). Studies of firefighters’ noise exposure and hearing ability conducted by the US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) (NIOSH 1991; Tubbs 1991; Tubbs 1992) and others (Reischl, Bair et al 1979; Reischl, Hanks et al 1981; Pepe, Jerger et al 1985; Ewigman, Kivlahan et al 1990; Kales, Polyhronopoulos et al 1997; Kales, Freyman et al 2001; Ide 2007; Rocha, Atherino et al 2010; Ide 2011; Ide 2011; Chung, Chu et al 2012) have documented evidence of NIHL, though many of these studies have failed to find an association between firefighting noise exposure and observed hearing loss. Other studies have documented low use of hearing protection devices among firefighters (Hong, Samo et al 2008; Hong, Chin et al 2011), despite an acknowledgement by many surveyed firefighters of the potential for NIHL.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pilot task-based assessment of noise levels among firefighters

Neitzel

Hong

Quinlan

et al. 2013

International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics

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PURPOSE Over one million American firefighters are routinely exposed to various occupational hazards agents. While efforts have been made to identify and reduce some causes of injuries and illnesses among firefighters, relatively little has been done to evaluate and understand occupational noise exposures in this group. The purpose of this pilot study was to apply a task-based noise exposure assessment methodology to firefighting operations to evaluate potential noise exposure sources, and to use collected task-based noise levels to create noise exposure estimates for evaluation of risk of noise-induced hearing loss by comparison to the 8-hr and 24-hr recommended exposure limits (RELs) for noise of 85 and 80.3 dBA, respectively. METHODS Task-based noise exposures (n=100 measurements) were measured in three different fire departments (a rural department in Southeast Michigan and suburban and urban departments in Northern California). These levels were then combined with time-at-task information collected from firefighters to estimate 8-hr noise exposures for the rural and suburban fire departments (n=6 estimates for each department). Data from 24-hr dosimetry measurements and crude self-reported activity categories from the urban fire department (n=4 measurements) were used to create 24-hr exposure estimates to evaluate the bias associated with the task-based estimates. RESULTS Task-based noise levels were found to range from 82–109 dBA, with the highest levels resulting from use of saws and pneumatic chisels. Some short (e.g., 30 min) sequences of common tasks were found to result in nearly an entire allowable daily exposure. The majority of estimated 8-hr and 24-hr exposures exceeded the relevant recommended exposure limit. Predicted 24-hr exposures showed substantial imprecision in some cases, suggesting the need for increased task specificity. CONCLUSIONS The results indicate potential for overexposure to noise from a variety of firefighting tasks and equipment, and suggest a need for further exposure characterization and additional hearing loss prevention efforts. RELEVANCE TO INDUSTRY Firefighters may be at risk of noise-induced hearing loss, which can affect their fitness for duty and ability to respond effectively to emergencies. The results of this study suggest that additional efforts at hearing loss prevention among firefighters are warranted.

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“…Alguns autores indicaram que esta profissão não proporciona risco para perda auditiva induzida por ruído ocupacional, pois, durante o trabalho, os deslocamentos não são padronizados e, dessa forma, a exposição a ruído ocorre ocasionalmente (14)(15)(16) . Entretanto, segundo outras pesquisas, os bombeiros ficam expostos a níveis de pressão sonora elevados, mesmo por períodos breves e intermitentes (17)(18) . Além disso, o ruído urbano representa a exposição ocupacional para o bombeiro, uma vez que as corporações estão sempre localizadas em vias públicas de tráfego intenso de veículos.…”

Section: Introductionunclassified

Incômodo causado pelo ruído a uma população de bombeiros

Sousa

Fiorini

Guzman

2009

Rev. soc. bras. fonoaudiol.

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OBJETIVO: Identificar o incômodo causado pelo ruído e queixas relacionadas à saúde auditiva em uma corporação de bombeiros do município Santo André (SP). MÉTODOS: Tratou-se de um estudo epidemiológico transversal de inquérito na população de 72 bombeiros do 8º Grupamento, 28 do setor administrativo, 20 do centro de ocorrência e 24 do atendimento operacional. Foi aplicado um protocolo composto por 57 questões referentes a dados pessoais, queixas auditivas, não auditivas e de incômodo. Também foi realizado o mapeamento sonoro do local. RESULTADOS: Os níveis de pressão sonora no local da corporação ultrapassaram 67 dB (A), chegando a níveis maiores de 82 dB (A) na avenida. A maioria (83,3%) dos sujeitos relatou o cotidiano ruidoso no trabalho, sendo o ruído urbano citado como maior fonte. Quando vistos separadamente por área de atuação, a maior ocorrência foi para ruído urbano (73,9%), ruído da viatura (68,0%) e ruído do telefone (38,2%) para o setor administrativo, divisão operacional e atendimento de ocorrências, respectivamente. CONCLUSÃO: Os bombeiros analisados, além da exposição a ruídos provenientes da ocupação no ambiente de trabalho como viaturas, rádios de comunicação e telefones, também sofrem as consequências do ruído urbano, que altera atividades no trabalho e provoca incômodo.

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Firefighters??? Hearing: A Comparison With Population Databases From the International Standards Organization

Cited by 37 publications

References 9 publications

Injury Risk and Noise Exposure in Firefighter Training Operations

Injury Risk and Noise Exposure in Firefighter Training Operations

Pilot task-based assessment of noise levels among firefighters

Incômodo causado pelo ruído a uma população de bombeiros

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