Noise induced hearing loss in industrial workers of Karachi

ABSTRACT

Noise induced hearing loss [NIHL] sustained during work is detrimental to hearing. Workers involved in a number of industries operating in Karachi are victim to this hazardous occupational disease. International Labour Organisation [ILO] and World Health Organization [WHO] recognise NIHL as occupational disease that deserves compensation and they have set up industrial standards for noise level with current standard limiting noise exposure of 95 dB for 2 hours daily. Workmens Compensation Act 1923 and Social Security Ordinance 1965 do not include acoustic trauma as an occupational disease for percentage compensation. A conservative estimate afer this study suggest that 14,441 workers out of a total number of 173,300 registered with Sindh Social Security Institution in 1992 have noise induced hearing loss. This provokes an urgent need to persuade the workers, employers and the Government to realise the gravity of the situation so as to bring legislative measures, that can be employed to reduce noise at work and to provide compensation for the occupational deaf