Abstract:
Background Occupational noise-induced deafness is the second most common occupational disease, second only to occupational pneumoconiosis. In 2007, China introduced its first guidelines for occupational health risk assessment of chemicals in the workplace, but workplace noise was not included.
Objective This study explores the applicability of selected occupational health risk assessment methods for noise-exposed workstations in a large equipment manufacturing enterprise.
Methods Occupational hazard risk index method, International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) model, and China classification of occupational hazards at workplace were used to assess the occupational health risk of noise-exposed workstations in a large equipment manufacturing enterprise, and the results were compared. The workers' abnormal hearing rates sourced from occupational health examination data were tested for consistency with above occupational health risk assessment results.
Results No engineering noise reduction facilities were installed in the selected workstations, and few workers wore earplugs or earmuffs. The abnormal hearing rate of workers exposed to noise was 16.67%-50.00% across selected job titles, and the rate of workers not exposed to noise was 0. The risk ratios of occupational hazard risk index method were 3 for all noise-exposed workstations and 2 for all non-noise-exposed ones. The risk ratios of ICMM model were 5 for all noise-exposed workstations and 2 for all non-noise-exposed ones. The risk ratios of China classification of occupational hazards at workplace for noise-exposed workstations were 1-4.
Conclusion The three occupational health risk assessment methods could all be used for noise risk assessment. The ICMM model is conservative; the China classification of occupational hazards at workplace is too simple and crude; the occupational hazard risk index method considers all the factors that might modify the noise-induced health risks, and its assessment results are close to reality.
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