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Published on: October 11, 2024
Costs and effectiveness of hearing conservation programs at 14 US metal manufacturing facilities
Stephanie K Sayler1, Peter M Rabinowitz2, Linda F Cantley3
1a Department of Environmental Health Sciences , University of Michigan , Ann Arbor , MI , USA.
Objective:
This study characterised overall and specific costs associated with hearing conservation programmes (HCPs) at US metal manufacturing sites, and examined the association between these costs and several noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) outcomes.
Design:
We interviewed personnel and reviewed records at participating facilities. We also measured noise for comparison to the ten-year average of measurements made by each facility. NIHL outcomes assessed included rates of standard threshold shifts (STS) and high-frequency hearing loss, as well as prevalence of hearing impairment, for each participating facility. We used linear regression to identify per-person HCP costs that best predicted the NIHL outcomes.
Study Sample:
We evaluated 14 US metal manufacturing facilities operated by a single company.
Results:
Annual HCP costs ranged from roughly $67,000 to $397,000 (average $308 ± 80 per worker). Our full-shift noise measurements (mean 83.1 dBA) showed good agreement with the facilities' measurements (mean 82.6 dBA). Hearing impairment prevalence was about 15% overall. Higher expenditures for training and hearing protector fit-testing were significantly associated with reduced STS prevalence. Higher training expenditures were also related to lower hearing impairment prevalence and high-frequency hearing loss rates.
Conclusions:
HCP costs were substantial and variable. Increased workplace spending on training and fit-testing may help minimise NIHL.
