 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Marjorie C. McCullagh, PhD, RN, Department of Nursing, North Dakota State Unviversity, Box 5055 Sudro 136, Fargo, ND 58105-5055, 701-231-7517, marjorie.mccullagh@ndsu.nodak.edu and Madeleine Kerr, PhD, RN, School of Nursing, University of Minnesota, 6-101 WDH, 308 Harvard St. S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455.
Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) remains one of the most common disabilities among workers. Farmers and construction laborers are particularly high risk for NIHL for several reasons. Although NIHL can be prevented with a hearing conservation program, agricultural workers and construction laborers are less likely than workers in general industry to be served by such programs. An important component of a hearing conservation program is use of hearing protection devices (HPDs) when in high noise environments. Little is known about HPD use among workers in farming and construction. This poster will compare HPD use among farmers and construction laborers.
Farmers (n=167) and construction laborers (n=150) responded to written questionnaire items designed to measure use of HPDs in various work settings or jobs, and had screening audiograms at their workplace or a farm show. Levels of HPD use among construction laborers and farmers are examined, as well as relationships between use, demographic variables, and hearing sensitivity. Results of this study will be useful in demonstrating the high need for hearing conservation programs designed for farmers and construction laborers.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Hearing Protection, Workforce
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.