Home Email this page Print this page Bookmark this page Decrease font size Default font size Increase font size
Noise & Health  
 CURRENT ISSUE    PAST ISSUES    AHEAD OF PRINT    SEARCH   GET E-ALERTS    
 
 
Similar in PUBMED
   Search Pubmed for
   Search in Google Scholar for
 Related articles
Email Alert *
Add to My List *
* Registration required (free)  
 


 
   Abstract
  Introduction
  Methods
  Results
  Discussion
   References
   Article Figures
 

 Article Access Statistics
    Viewed5723    
    Printed169    
    Emailed1    
    PDF Downloaded22    
    Comments [Add]    
    Cited by others 5    

Recommend this journal

 


 
  Table of Contents    
ARTICLE  
Year : 2015  |  Volume : 17  |  Issue : 78  |  Page : 294-299
Noise as an explanatory factor in work-related fatality reports

1 Occupational Health Unit, Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec, Québec; Direction de Sante Publique de Chaudière-Appalaches, Sainte-Marie; Département Clinique de Santé Publique, Centre Hospitalier Affilié Universitaire Hôtel-Dieu de Lévis, Lévis; Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Université Laval, Canada
2 Occupational Health Unit, Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec, Québec; Direction de Sante Publique de Chaudière-Appalaches, Sainte-Marie, Canada
3 Direction de Sante Publique de Chaudière-Appalaches, Sainte-Marie, Canada
4 Occupational Health Unit, Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec, Québec, Canada
5 School of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
6 School of Speech Therapy and Audiology, Université de Montréal; Centre de Recherche Interdisciplinaire en Réadaptation, Québec, Canada
7 Institut de Recherche Robert-Sauvé en Santé et Sécurité du Travail, Montréal, Canada
8 School of Speech Therapy and Audiology, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada

Click here for correspondence address and email
Date of Web Publication10-Sep-2015
 
  Abstract 

Noise exposure in the workplace is a common reality in Québec, Canada as it is elsewhere. However, the extent to which noise acts as a causal or contributive factor in industrial work-related accidents has not been studied thoroughly despite its plausibility. This article aims to describe the importance or potential importance, during investigations looking into the specific causes of each work-related fatal accident, of noise as an explanatory factor. The written information contained in the accident reports pertaining to contextual and technical elements were used.
The study used multiple case qualitative content analysis. This descriptive study was based on the content analysis of the 788 reports from the Commission de la santé et de la sécurité du travail du Québec [Workers' Compensation Board (WCB)] investigating the fatal work-related accidents between 1990 and 2005. The study was descriptive (number and percentages). Noise was explicitly stated as one of the explanatory factors for the fatal outcome in 2.2% (17/788) of the fatal accidents, particularly when the work involved vehicular movement or the need to communicate between workers. Noise was not typically considered a unique cause in the accident, notably because the investigators considered that the accident would have probably occurred due to other risk factors (for example, disregard of safety rules, shortcomings in work methods, and inadequate training). Noise is an important risk factor when communication is involved in work. Since noise is ubiquitous and may also interfere with vigilance and other risk factors for accidents, it may be a much more important contributing factor to accidents than is currently recognized.

Keywords: Causal factor, communication, explanatory factor, fatal accident reports, injury, workplace noise

How to cite this article:
Deshaies P, Martin R, Belzile D, Fortier P, Laroche C, Leroux T, Nélisse H, Girard SA, Arcand R, Poulin M, Picard M. Noise as an explanatory factor in work-related fatality reports. Noise Health 2015;17:294-9

How to cite this URL:
Deshaies P, Martin R, Belzile D, Fortier P, Laroche C, Leroux T, Nélisse H, Girard SA, Arcand R, Poulin M, Picard M. Noise as an explanatory factor in work-related fatality reports. Noise Health [serial online] 2015 [cited 2023 Jun 10];17:294-9. Available from: https://www.noiseandhealth.org/text.asp?2015/17/78/294/165050

  Introduction Top

"The recognition of noise as a serious health hazard as opposed to a nuisance is a recent development and the health effects of hazardous noise exposure are now considered to be an increasingly important public health problem." [1] Noise exposure in the workplace is a common reality in Québec (province of Canada) and worldwide. In the USA, it is estimated that 22 million workers (17%) are exposed to hazardous noise. [2] In Québec, two recent surveys [3],[4] have estimated that 7% and 10%, respectively, of Québec's workers reported being currently exposed "often or always" to loud workplace noise "such that it is difficult to maintain a conversation a few feet away, even when shouting." In addition, among them at least 4,300 workers are exposed to daily noise levels of 100 dBA or more in over 500 workplaces. [5]

Occupational noise and accidents

Occupational noise exposure has been linked to numerous adverse health effects. [6] The assumption of a causal or contributive impact of occupational noise on the occurrence of occupational accidents has been addressed in several studies. [7],[8],[9],[10],[11],[12],[13],[14] Recent publications except one [15] suggest an exposure-response relationship between noise exposure or hearing impairment and accident risk. [14],[16],[17],[18],[19],[20] According to three explanatory models [21],[22],[23] and empirical data, there is a biological plausibility for a causal relationship between noise exposure and occupational accident risk. [22],[24],[25],[26] These published models have been integrated in a new model [Figure 1]. Ambient noise interference with communication appears as a main plausible pathway. [21],[27],[28],[29],[30] The effect of hearing protection devices (HPDs) on communication interference is inconclusive. [31],[32],[33],[34],[35],[36],[37],[38] Other plausible pathways include habituation and reduced vigilance. [30],[39],[40],[41] Nevertheless, the extent to which noise does act as a causal or contributive factor in fatal workplace accidents remains unclear and is subject to debate.
Figure 1: Potential effects of occupational noise on the risk of injuries based on interaction between the worker and his/her workplace
[Institut national de santé publique du Québec (INSPQ), adapted from Hétu 1993, Wilkins 1981 and Le Cocq 2010]


Click here to view


Through a review of work-related fatality reports, this study sought to: 1. describe the characteristics and circumstances of fatal accidents occurring in noisy workplaces, 2. determine the number of instances when noise was identified as one of the potential causes and retained as such, 3. determine the number of instances when noise could have been identified as one of the potential causes, and 4. examine the methods used in reports to analyze the noise factor during accident investigations. Though not presented in this paper, the fifth aim was to determine the worth of fatality reports as a potential surveillance data source.


  Methods Top


Similar to a multiple case studies design, this population-based descriptive study is based on a thorough analysis of the content found in the 788 fatal accident reports completed by various inspectors from the Commission de la santé et de la sécurité du travail du Québec [Workers' Compensation Board (WCB)] during the 1990-2005 period. For the investigation of the causes of a fatal injury, the WCB assigns two inspectors to each case. As a more standardized inquiry process was adopted in 2000, the reports were divided into the following two blocks: Main block covering accident reports issued between 2000 and 2005 (n = 284) and a complementary block assessing those in the 1990-1999 period (n = 504).

In brief, the assigned inspectors are responsible for gathering all interesting and relevant facts from various sources (witnesses, simulations, etc.), classifying the information into essential and secondary items, identifying the potential causes to be further analyzed, and reaching a plausible conclusion as to the causes of the fatal event. In this study, assessment of the noise factor was based on the written information found in the publicly available reports regarding the essential contextual and technical elements used to assess the noise-accident relationship.

The underlying framework for analyzing each accident report is presented with the results in [Figure 2]. Accidents were deemed to have occurred in a noisy environment wherever it was clearly indicated that at least one source of noise was operating within the victim's work area at the time of the accident irrespective of the noise level. To be classified "noise mentioned explicitly," a report had to contain at least one key word relating to the following categories: Masking noise, warning signal, hearing loss, or HPDs. When mentioned explicitly, noise was classified as treated "directly" when analyzed as a potential cause per se, "indirectly" when analyzed within another potential cause, and "in a general manner" when merely mentioned in the description of the fatal event. Lastly, reports in which noise was identified as an explanatory factor of the fatal event by the inspectors were classified as "noise retained as a cause."
Figure 2: Noise as an explanatory factor in the Québec WCB fatal accidents reports in the 1990-2005 period (n = 788)

Click here to view


When noise was mentioned explicitly, an in-depth content analysis was first carried out separately by at least two expert authors (audiologists or acoustic engineers) to examine the methods used by the inspectors to analyze the noise factor. Thereafter, during a meeting to discuss individual reports, a consensus was reached by all the authors regarding the inspectors' choice of noise measurements and whether their analyses and conclusions were appropriate. The number of reports to be analyzed in depth was determined by reaching saturation in the information of interest relative to the study's objectives. All the reports not thoroughly analyzed were reviewed summarily by one of the authors to check for any new relevant information.

A comprehensive analysis of accident reports from the main block in which noise was not mentioned explicitly was also carried out to determine if noise could have been considered as a potential cause. To reach such a conclusion, the accident must have occurred in a noisy environment and involved a victim being "struck by a vehicle" since noise is more likely to interfere with communication in this context.

While reports from the main block were scrutinized for information relative to all four objectives, those from the complementary block were analyzed only when noise was mentioned explicitly (objectives 2 and 4).


  Results Top


From the 788 work-related accident reports covering the 1990-2005 period, noise was mentioned explicitly in 67 (32 + 35/788 = 8.5%) reports [Figure 2]. Among those, noise was treated "directly" in 21 (2.7%) reports, "indirectly" in 15 (1.9%) reports, and "in a general manner" in 31 (3.9%) reports. Moreover, inspectors concluded that noise was one of the causes in the fatal event in 17 (2.2%) out of 21 reports in which noise was analyzed directly.

From the 67 reports in which noise was mentioned explicitly, 50 were analyzed comprehensively, including 28 out of 32 from the main block and 22 out of 35 from the complementary block. The analysis revealed the following four noise assessment methods used by the inspectors:

  1. Qualitative assessment [21 (42%)], 19 of which also included quantitative measures;
  2. Event simulations [13 (26%)], two of which were with expert consultants;
  3. Quantitative measures only [six (12%)]; and
  4. General description only [10 (20%)].


From the available information and despite poor data in some cases (i.e., incomplete noise assessments and technical flaws), the authors concluded that the inspectors had reached adequate conclusions in 24 (48%) cases. However, a more thorough investigation of the fatal event could have yielded a different conclusion relative to the noise factor in three cases (6%). Finally, 23 (46%) reports contained insufficient information for the authors to assess the validity of the inspectors' conclusions.

During the 2000-2005 period (main block of reports), 161 fatal accidents took place in noisy work environments characterized by various noise sources (trucks, concrete saws, wood saws, conveyor belts, etc.) ([Figure 2], "Noisy environment?"). Although in most cases (122/161), the noise source was directly involved in the accidental event, noise per se was retained as a cause in 4.3% (7/161) of cases. Construction (31/161) and forestry (28/161) workers accounted for 36.6% of the victims. The mechanism of injury was "struck by a vehicle" in 47 (29.2%) cases, hit/crushed by an object in 38 (23.6%) cases, or wedged/dragged in 34 (21.1%) cases. The remaining 42 (26.1%) victims fell or were injured by some other mechanism.

Over the same period (2000-2005), noise was not explicitly mentioned in 129 reports investigating fatal accidents in noisy work environments including 29 (22.5%) accidents involving a worker being "struck by a vehicle." Following a comprehensive content analysis of these 29 reports, the authors concluded that noise could have been considered in five (3.9%) reports because of sufficient circumstantial evidence of possible interference of ambient noise in the communication between workers or in the perception of warning signals. However, the available written information did not make it possible to conclude if noise was actually a cause or not.

In all other reports involving a worker being struck by a vehicle (24/29), the authors agreed with the inspectors' findings that noise did not need to be considered as other identified causes were sufficiently obvious to explain the event irrespective of the noise levels.


  Discussion Top


Noise was explicitly stated as one of the explanatory factors in 2.2% (17/788) of the fatal accident reports. Although qualitative methods are more typically designed to explain phenomena than to explore causal relationships, the goal of the inspectors' inquiries was to gather all relevant information in order to reach conclusions with regard to the causes of a fatal event. The content analysis of 788 reports spanning a 16-year period argues strongly in favor of, although it cannot prove, a causal relationship between noise and fatal accidents in the 17 cases identified by the inspectors. Given the methodological limitations (i.e., access to written reports but not to inspectors' notes, limited data in some reports, and review of fatal accident reports only) and inspectors' constraints during investigations, this result (2.2%) most likely underestimates the proportion of workplace accidents explained at least partly by noise.

Interference with communication likely explains the causal relationship between noise and accidents. In all the 17 cases in which inspectors identified noise as a cause (15 involving a worker being struck by a moving vehicle), one aspect of communication was impaired. Indeed, the content analysis revealed that the warning device either failed or could not be heard over the ambient noise.

Interestingly, noise was identified as a cause in 11 cases during the 1990-1999 period, a time when inspectors were not, to the authors' knowledge, specifically trained to carry out noise assessments and during which the causal relationship between noise and accidents was not yet well known or established. As inspectors gathered information from witnesses and other sources to understand the circumstances surrounding a fatal accident, the hypothesis of noise acting as an essential factor in cases where communication was at stake likely emerged intuitively. So did the interference with communication as a noise-related cause of accidents. In one case, the use of HPDs at the time the accident occurred was considered to have interfered with the recognition of the backup alarm and warning shouts. These observations reinforce the authors' interpretation of these results.

Noise is typically not identified as the sole cause while explaining fatal events. Indeed, multiple causes were identified in most accident reports. For the 21 cases in which noise was analyzed directly as a potential cause, shortcomings in work methods and work organization were also identified in all but four reports (data not shown). Lack of adequate training, poor visibility, and faulty or absent safety measures were among the other identified modifiable causes, providing useful insight into the occurrence of fatal accidents within noisy work settings. Such factors could be considered potential confounders, along with other known factors such as age in epidemiological studies investigating the relationship between noise and workplace accidents.

Other known adverse effects of noise may also contribute to fatal accidents including reduced vigilance, precision, and visual span. [21] Since inspectors only include essential elements in their analysis to conclude on potential causes, noise is not identified as a cause in situations where these adverse effects come into play. This may partly explain why the impact of noise, measured in terms of relative risk or attributable fraction reported in some epidemiological studies, [8],[11],[16],[19] is greater than the findings that the current study suggests.

In the current study, only fatal accident reports were reviewed. However, some epidemiological studies report an association between noise and nonfatal accidents. [8],[11],[13],[14],[16],[19] Given a causal relationship between noise and accidents, noise would likely contribute to a significantly greater number of accidents than these findings suggest if nonfatal injuries were also included.

Author consensus was achieved relative to the inspectors' choice of noise measurements, analyses, and conclusions. Such a judgment was based solely on the information available in the written reports. Access to the full range of information gathered by the inspectors (including notes, simulations, and interviews) might have yielded a different judgment.

Inferences were often necessary to determine if the fatal accident had occurred in a noisy environment since most reports did not contain noise measurement data. Noise may affect communication at various levels as its effect consists of a complex interaction between different factors according to Hétu's [21] and Wilkins' [22] models. Nevertheless, a conservative approach was used in this study to define a noisy environment in order to minimize overestimation.

A rather conservative approach was also used by the authors in deciding that noise could have been mentioned in cases when it was not explicitly stated by the inspectors. This may partly explain the rather low percentage of such reports (3.9%) in the 2000-2005 subset. However, the authors judged that noise was considered as a potential cause by the inspectors in the vast majority of events in which it should have been.

The findings of this study suggest that noise should be systematically considered as a potential cause in all investigations of work-related accidents where vehicular movement or communication between workers is involved. As noise may also interfere with vigilance and other risk factors for accidents, it may be a much more important contributing factor to accidents than previously thought and than what is suggested by the findings of the current study. Given the omnipresence of noise and its plausible effects on worker safety, it should be a key component in the prevention of occupational accidents. In addition to reducing the risk of hearing loss, published results suggest that reducing workplace noise can yield beneficial effects on communication, worker comfort, and potentially, vigilance. [11],[12],[41],[42],[43],[44],[45],[46],[47],[48] Further studies, particularly those exploring the contexts of impaired communication such as warning sound perception and interaction between noise and other risk factors for accidents, are needed to better understand the ways in which noise may cause or contribute to accidents as well as increase the effectiveness of accident prevention efforts.

Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Direction de santé publique de Chaudière-Appalaches. The authors would also like to thank Brigitte Pelchat, Sylvie Lepage, and Lucie Pelchat for their secretarial support and Andrée Fafard, Sylvie Veilleux and Pier-Anne Paquet-Gagnon for their support in the design, data entry, and verification of some results.

Financial support and sponsorship

Public Health Department of Chaudière-Appalaches.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.

 
  References Top

1.
World Health Organization. Occupational and community noise. Fact sheet No. 258. Geneva. [Updated 2001]. Available from: http://www.who.int/peh/Occupational_health/OCHweb/OSHpages/OSHDocuments/Factsheets/noise.pdf. [Last accessed on 2008 Jun 4].  Back to cited text no. 1
    
2.
Tak S, Davis RR, Calvert GM. Exposure to hazardous workplace noise and use of hearing protection devices among US workers-NHANES, 1999-2004. Am J Ind Med 2009;52:358-71.  Back to cited text no. 2
    
3.
Funes A, Arcand R, Stock S, Vézina M, Mercier M. [Work, an important determinant of health.] [In French] Québec: Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux; 2012. p. 25.  Back to cited text no. 3
    
4.
Vézina M, Cloutier E, Stock S, Lippel K, Fortin é, Delisle A, et al. [Québec Survey on Working and Employment Conditions and Occupational Health and Safety (EQCOTESST).] [In French] Montréal: IRSST; 2011. p. 756.  Back to cited text no. 4
    
5.
Legris M, Boudreault H, Hains M. [Extreme noise in the workplace.] [In French] Travail et Santé. 2008;24:42-4.  Back to cited text no. 5
    
6.
Berglund B, Lindvall T, Schwela DH. Guidelines for Community Noise. Geneva: World Health Organization (WHO); 1999. p. 159.  Back to cited text no. 6
    
7.
Barreto SM, Swerdlow AJ, Smith PG, Higgins CD. A nested case-control study of fatal work related injuries among Brazilian steel workers. Occup Environ Med 1997;54:599-604.  Back to cited text no. 7
    
8.
Dias A, Cordeiro R. Fraction of work-related accidents attributable to occupational noise in the city of Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil. Noise Health 2008;10:69-73.  Back to cited text no. 8
[PUBMED]  Medknow Journal  
9.
Melamed S, Luz JY, Green MS. Noise exposure, noise annoyance and their relation to psychological distress, accident and sickness absence among blue-collar workers: The cordis study. Isr J Med Sci 1992;28:629-35.  Back to cited text no. 9
    
10.
Zwerling C, Whitten PS, Davis CS, Sprince NL. Occupational injuries among workers with disabilities: The National Health Interview Survey, 1985-1994. JAMA 1997;278:2163-6.  Back to cited text no. 10
    
11.
Moll van Charante AW, Mulder PG. Perceptual acuity and the risk of industrial accidents. Am J Epidemiol 1990;131:652-63.  Back to cited text no. 11
    
12.
Cordeiro R, Clemente AP, Diniz CS, Dias A. Occupational noise as a risk factor for work-related injuries. Rev Saude Publica 2005;39:461-6.   Back to cited text no. 12
    
13.
Girard SA, Leroux T, Courteau M, Picard M, Turcotte F, Richer O. Occupational noise exposure and noise-induced hearing loss are associated with work-related injuries leading to admission to hospital. Inj Prev 2014;21:e88-92.   Back to cited text no. 13
    
14.
Cantley LF, Galusha D, Cullen MR, Dixon-Ernst C, Rabinowitz PM, Neitzel RL. Association between ambient noise exposure, hearing acuity, and risk of acute occupational injury. Scand J Work Environ Health 2015;41:75-83.  Back to cited text no. 14
    
15.
Kling RN, Demers PA, Alamgir H, Davies HW. Noise exposure and serious injury to active sawmill workers in British Columbia. Occup Environ Med 2012;69:211-6.  Back to cited text no. 15
    
16.
Girard SA, Jean S, Larocque R, Simard M, Simpson A, Picard M, et al. [Work safety problems due to hearing loss in noisy workplaces: workplaces at risk.] [In French] Québec: Institut national de santé publique du Québec; 2003a. Available from: http://www.inspq.qc.ca/pdf/publications/215-PerteAudition-MilieuxTravailARisque.pdf. [Last accessed on 2014 Aug 22].  Back to cited text no. 16
    
17.
Girard SA, Jean S, Larocque R, Simard M, Simpson A, Picard M, et al. [Work safety problems due to hearing loss in noisy workplaces: recurrent accidents.] [In French] Québec: Institut national de santé publique du Québec; 2003b. Available from: http://www.inspq.qc.ca/pdf/publications/214-PerteAuditionEvenementsMultiples.pdf. [Last accessed on 2014 Aug 22].  Back to cited text no. 17
    
18.
Girard SA, Jean S, Larocque R, Simard M, Simpson A, Picard M, et al. [Work safety problems due to hearing loss in noisy workplaces: complementary document.] [In French] Québec: Institut national de santé publique du Québec; 2003c. Available from: http://www.inspq.qc.ca/pdf/publications/216-PerteAudition_DocumentDeSoutien.pdf. [Last accessed on 2014 Aug 22].  Back to cited text no. 18
    
19.
Picard M, Girard SA, Simard M, Larocque R, Leroux T, Turcotte F. Association of work-related accidents with noise exposure in the workplace and noise-induced hearing loss based on the experience of some 240,000 person-years of observation. Accid Anal Prev 2008;40:1644-52.  Back to cited text no. 19
    
20.
Girard SA, Leroux T, Verreault R, Courteau M, Picard M, Turcotte F, et al. Falls risk and hospitalization among retired workers with occupational noise-induced hearing loss. Can J Aging. 2014;33: 84-91.  Back to cited text no. 20
    
21.
Hétu R. The hearing conservation paradigm and the experienced effects of occupational noise exposure. Can Acoust/Acoust Canad 1994;22: 3-19.  Back to cited text no. 21
    
22.
Wilkins PA. The specification and use of industrial warning sounds. In: Peutz VM, De Bruijn A, editors. Inter-Noise Proceedings: 1981 International Conference on Noise Control Engineering. Delft, Netherlands: Nederlands Akoestisch Genootschap; 1981. p. 765-8.  Back to cited text no. 22
    
23.
Le Cocq C. [Communication in a noisy environment: perception of one′s own voice and speech enhancement. Doctoral thesis.] [In French] Montréal: école de technologie supérieure, Université du Québec; 2010. Available from: http://espace.etsmtl.ca/274/4/LE_COCQ_C%C3%A9cile%2Dweb.pdf. [Last accessed on 2014 Aug 22].  Back to cited text no. 23
    
24.
Hétu R. [Auditory capacities, job requirements and human rights.] [In French] Can Acoust/Acoust Canad 1993;21:3-14.  Back to cited text no. 24
    
25.
Laroche C, Hétu R, L′Espérance A. [Backup alarms that kill!] [In French] Travail et santé 1991;7:9-13.  Back to cited text no. 25
    
26.
Vaillancourt V, Nélisse H, Laroche C, Giguère C, Boutin J, Laferrière P. Comparison of sound propagation and perception of three types of backup alarms with regards to worker safety. Noise Health 2013;15: 420-36.  Back to cited text no. 26
[PUBMED]  Medknow Journal  
27.
Robinson GS, Casali JG. Speech communications and signal detection in noise. In: Berger EH, editor. The Noise Manual. 5 th ed. Fairfax (VA): American Industrial Hygiene Association; 2000. p. 567-600.  Back to cited text no. 27
    
28.
Suter AH. Communication and job performance in noise: A review. ASHA Monogr 1992;1-84.  Back to cited text no. 28
    
29.
Ayres TJ, Beyer RR. Effectiveness of truck backup alarms. Arlington (VA): American Trucking Association Safety Management Council, National Meeting and Exhibition; 1994. p. 8.  Back to cited text no. 29
    
30.
Brammer AJ, Laroche C. Noise and communication: A three-year update. Noise Health 2012;14:281-6.  Back to cited text no. 30
[PUBMED]  Medknow Journal  
31.
Toppila E, Pyykkö I, Pääkkönen R. Evaluation of the increased accident risk from workplace noise. Int J Occup Saf Ergon 2009;15:155-62.  Back to cited text no. 31
    
32.
Svensson EB, Morata TC, Nylén P, Krieg EF, Johnson AC. Beliefs and attitudes among Swedish workers regarding the risk of hearing loss. Int J Audiol 2004;43:585-93.  Back to cited text no. 32
    
33.
Verbsky B. Hearing aids + earmuffs: Counter-intuitive hearing conservation. Update-The Newsletter of the Council for Accreditation in Occupational Hearing Conservation 2004;16:1 and 6.  Back to cited text no. 33
    
34.
Wilkins PA, Action WI. Noise and accidents - a review. Ann Occup Hyg 1982;25:249-60.  Back to cited text no. 34
    
35.
Hétu R (in memoriam), Quoc HT, Fortin M, Denis S. [Possible effects of earmuffs on the perception of warning sound devices in noisy workplaces. Final report.] [In French] (N/D PE 93-11, 91-167). Montréal: IRSST; 1995. p. 104+annex.  Back to cited text no. 35
    
36.
Wilkins PA, Martin AM. Hearing protection and warning sounds in industry: A review. Appl Acoust 1987;21:267-93.  Back to cited text no. 36
    
37.
Wilkins PA, Martin AM. The effect of hearing protectors on perception of warning and indicator sounds - a general review. Southampton: Institute of Sound and Vibration Research (ISVR), University of Southampton; 1978. p. 210.  Back to cited text no. 37
    
38.
McKinley RL, Bolia RS. The effects of hearing protectors on reaction times in audio-visual target acquisition. In: Carter N, Soames Job RS, editors, Proceedings of the 7 th International Congress on Noise as a Public Health Problem (ICBEN). Sydney: Noise Effects′98 Pty Ltd; 1998. p. 205-08.  Back to cited text no. 38
    
39.
Passchier-Vermeer W, Passchier WF. Noise exposure and public health. Environ Health Perspect 2000;108(Suppl 1):123-31.  Back to cited text no. 39
    
40.
Smith A. The non-auditory effects of noise. Occup Health Rev 1992;38:21-3.  Back to cited text no. 40
    
41.
Wilkins PA, Acton WI. Noise and accidents-a review. Ann Occup Hyg 1992;25:249-60.  Back to cited text no. 41
    
42.
Damongeot A. [Prevention of accidents due to the non-perception of warning sound signals: the case of walking workers in public works projects or railways.] [In French] Note documentaire ND 1999. Cahier de notes documentaires 1995;160:389-98.  Back to cited text no. 42
    
43.
Smith AP. Noise, accidents, minor injuries and cognitive failures. In: De Jong RG, Houtgast T, Franssen EA, Hofman WF, editors. Proceedings of 8 th International Congress on Noise as a Public Health Problem Conference. Schiedam: Foundation ICBEN; 2003. p. 140-4.  Back to cited text no. 43
    
44.
Chabot A, Gignac S. [Evaluation of an intervention to improve the audibility of warning sound devices in a facility.] [In French] In: Quimper C, Parent M, Gignac S, editors. [Intervention program aimed at reducing the consequences of occupational hearing loss: report of the pilot committee, annex C.] [In French] Beauport: Direction de santé publique de Québec; 2002. p. 37.  Back to cited text no. 44
    
45.
Hétu R, Quoc HT. [Evaluation of auditory detection capacities in noisy environments and integration of people with hearing loss.] [In French] Montréal: Profile-Research Report PR-151/IRSST; 1994. p. 2.  Back to cited text no. 45
    
46.
Suter AH. Noise reduction can benefit speech communication and warning signal detection. In: Peizi L, editor. Proceedings of Inter-Noise 87. Beijing, China: Acoustical Society of China; 1987. p. 1049-52.  Back to cited text no. 46
    
47.
Hoyos CG, Zimolong B. Chapter 4. Hazard cognition and risk-taking behavior. In: Hoyos CG, Zimolong B, editors. Occupational Safety and Accident Prevention. Behavioral Strategies and Methods. Advances in Human Factors/Ergonomics II. Amsterdam: Elsevier Science Publishers; 1988. p. 73-108.  Back to cited text no. 47
    
48.
Cohen A. The influence of a company hearing conservation program on extra-auditory problems in workers. J Safety Res 1976;8:146-62.  Back to cited text no. 48
    

Top
Correspondence Address:
Pierre Deshaies
Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec (INSPQ), 945 Rue Wolfe (2nd Floor), Québec (Québec), G1V 5B3
Canada
Login to access the Email id

Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None


DOI: 10.4103/1463-1741.165050

Rights and Permissions


    Figures

  [Figure 1], [Figure 2]

This article has been cited by
1 The effects of hearing protection devices on spatial awareness in complex listening environments
Hillary A. Snapp, Barbara Millet, Natasha Schaefer-Solle, Suhrud M. Rajguru, Sebastian A. Ausili, Hussain Md Abu Nyeem
PLOS ONE. 2023; 18(1): e0280240
[Pubmed] | [DOI]
2 Introduction of Safe Noise Zone (SNZ) Concept to Minimize the Adverse Effects of Noise during Jumbo Drilling Operation in Indian Underground Metalliferous Mines
Falguni Sarkar, Sunil Kumar Bisoyi, Pritismita Behera, Debashis Roy
Journal of The Institution of Engineers (India): Series D. 2022;
[Pubmed] | [DOI]
3 Augmented Hearing of Auditory Safety Cues for Construction Workers: A Systematic Literature Review
Kehinde Elelu, Tuyen Le, Chau Le
Sensors. 2022; 22(23): 9135
[Pubmed] | [DOI]
4 Critical Factors Affecting Intention of Use of Augmented Hearing Protection Technology in Construction
Yongcan Huang, Minh Tri Trinh, Tuyen Le
Journal of Construction Engineering and Management. 2021; 147(8): 04021088
[Pubmed] | [DOI]
5 Physical and Psychoacoustic Characteristics of Typical Noise on Construction Site: “How Does Noise Impact Construction Workers’ Experience?”
Xinhao Yang, Yitong Wang, Ruining Zhang, Yuan Zhang
Frontiers in Psychology. 2021; 12
[Pubmed] | [DOI]



 

Top