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Document ID (ISN)103635
CIS number 04-689
ISSN - Serial title 1250-3274 - Archives des maladies professionnelles et de médecine du travail
Year 2003
Convention or series no.
Author(s) Cambou J.P., Cothereau C., Cantet C., Garneau M.J., Tournon C.
Title Role of audiometry in the management of occupational exposure to noise above 85dB: Results of the SURDIPOSTE survey
Original title Place du bilan audiométrique dans la maîtrise du risque d'exposition à des bruits supérieurs à 85 décibels: résultats de l'étude SURDIPOSTE) [in French]
Bibliographic information Dec. 2003, Vol.64, No.7-8, p.486-494. Illus. 14 ref.
Abstract The objectives of this study were to classify railway industry occupations according to the risk of hearing loss associated with exposures to noise levels above 85dB and to highlight occupations where preventive actions need to be focused. This cross-sectional study involved 3150 noise-exposed and 636 non noise-exposed subjects recruited among French railway workers. Conventional frequencies audiometry (0.5-4kHz) was used to assess the hearing loss of each subject. The threshold used for hearing impairment was 30dB or more on the best ear. Multivariate analysis allowed a classification of the occupations according to the prevalence of hearing loss. The prevalence of hearing loss differed widely, varying from 2% to 21% among exposed subjects compared to 1.9% among non-exposed subjects. Among the 21 occupations studied, 9 were identified as being at high risk of hearing loss, 7 at moderate risk and 5 at low risk, comparable to that of the control group.
Descriptors (primary) noise; rail transport; hearing loss; occupation disease relation
Descriptors (secondary) hazard evaluation; case-control study; audiometric tests; statistical evaluation; frequency rates; cross-sectional study
Document type D - Periodical articles
Country / State or ProvinceFrance
Subject(s) Noise, hearing and vibration
Broad subject area(s) Physical hazards
Browse category(ies) Diseases of the ear and hearing damage
Rail transportation
Noise