ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To examine the hearing status of pre-job workers exposed to noise in metal manufacturing industries,and to analyze the related influencing factors. METHODS: A judgement sampling method was adopted to choose1 597 pre-job workers exposed to noise in metal manufacturing industries as the study subjects. The data of workers' occupational health examination was collected,and the influencing factors of hearing loss were analyzed. RESULTS: Among the 1 597 individuals,631( 39. 5%) cases reported occupational noise exposure history( noise exposure group) with the length of service of 0. 20( 0. 10-0. 30) years; 966( 60. 5%) cases denied occupational noise exposure history( no-noise exposure group). The hearing loss detection rate was 46. 1%( 737 /1 597); among them,the occupational contraindication detection rate was 13. 9%( 222 /1 597),and the detection rate of other kinds of hearing loss was 32. 2%( 515 /1 597).The detection rates in workers with occupational contraindication and the other kinds of hearing loss in noise exposure group were higher than those in the non-noise exposure group( 16. 5% vs 12. 2%,50. 6% vs 43. 3%,P < 0. 05). The male workers had higher incidence than female workers [the odds ratio( OR) were 1. 958 and 2. 331,respectively,P < 0. 01);the workers with age > 25 years had higher incidence than those with age ≤ 25 years( OR were 2. 390 and 2. 245,respectively,P < 0. 01); the noise exposure workers had higher incidence than non-noise exposure ones( OR were 1. 536 and 1. 287,respectively,P < 0. 05). CONCLUSION: Pre-job occupational health examination is helpful for early detection of occupational contraindication in noise exposure workers. Attention should be paid to the male workers,the older workers,and those with occupational noise exposure history when conducting occupational health examination.