ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT This study aimed to evaluate the current practices in relation to best practice criteria and make recommendations for improvements to noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) awareness training in the South African mining industry. A survey tool based on fi ndings of a literature review on best practice for NIHL awareness training was developed for use in interviews; with managers responsible for NIHL awareness training at the mines. Thirty managers were interviewed in the survey at mines representative of different sizes and different commodities. Results indicate that NIHL awareness training is not treated as a priority training area. Only 20 of NIHL awareness training programmes had a theoretical basis in health promotion or adult education. Employees received; on average; 15 minutes of training per annum. Evaluation of employee knowledge only occurred at 40 of the mines surveyed. Recommendations were made to address the factors identified in the evaluation of the current practices in the South African mining industry regarding NIHL awareness training needing to be aligned with best practice
Subject(s)
Attitude , Hearing Loss , MiningABSTRACT
Lower back pain (LBP) is a global concern among workers in various occupational settings. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to determine the prevalence of LBP and its risk factors among aircraft technicians (ACTs) in Ethiopian Airlines. A self-administered questionnaire was used to obtain data from 294 ACTs. The prevalence of LBP among ACTs was 47.1 during the past six months. Duration of employment was signifi cantly associated with experiencing LBP as ACTs with 7 - 9 years working experience were almost eight times more likely to experience LBP that those with 1- 3 years of experience (OR = 7.86; 95 CI 1.59-52.55 ). Significant associations were observed between the prevalence of LBP and pulling and pushing heavy loads (OR = 3.17; 95 CI 1.49-6.74); lifting heavy objects (OR = 1.90; 95 CI 1.01-3.60); and carrying heavy loads (OR = 2.02; 95 CI 1.15-3.57). Bending (OR = 2.13; 95 CI 1.30-3.49); lifting hard to hold loads (OR = 2.78; 95 CI 1.72-4.49); and working with twisted trunks (OR = 2.15; 95 CI 1.34-3.43) were also signifi cantly associated with LBP. Relevant occupational health and safety interventions should be designed and implemented to reduce the prevalence of LBP in these ACTs; taking into account the nature of the work conducted