Objective To study knowledge status of industrial noise hazard and protective measures among noise-exposed workers in Putuo District of Shanghai, and to provide references for effective control and prevention of industrial noise.
Methods A questionnaire survey enrolled 320 noise-exposed workers from Putuo District by random multistage sampling in April 2011. The relations of knowledge of industrial noise hazard and protection with job title, age, gender, household register, and educational level were analyzed.
Results Differences in knowledge of industrial noise hazard and protective measures were found among groups of different age, gender, household register, and educational level. The workers of different age showed significant differences in the awareness rate of once-a-year-occupational-health-examination (χ2=12.37, P<0.05). The male workers showed higher awareness than the female workers on the knowledge of nervous system damage induced by industrial noise (χ2=5.01, P<0.05). There were significant differences between local and non-local residents in the knowledge that the regular occupational health exam is demanded by laws, the frequency of occupational health examination is once a year, and cotton is not good at noise blocking (χ2=5.37, 4.19, 7.90, respectively, all P<0.05). There were significant differences in the knowledge that industrial noise may induce hearing loss or deafness, industrial noise may damage nervous system, adverse health effect may increase with intensity, and the laws stipulate regular occupational health exams between the industrial noise exposed workers of different education background (χ2=22.37, 15.09, 9.63, 13.07, respectively, all P<0.05).
Conclusion The knowledge of industrial noise hazard and protection should be further strengthened among workers with occupational exposure to noise in Putuo District. Relevant instructions and trainings should be deliverable to target workers.
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