267646 Noise exposure from non-occupational activities and second employment among career firefighters

Monday, October 29, 2012

Dal Lae Chin, PhD, RN , School of Nursing, Department of Community Health Systems, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
Stephanie Phelps, BSN, MS , School of Nursing, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
Jamie Feld, MPH , Occupational Medicine, NorthShore Medical Group, Glenview, IL
OiSaeng Hong, PhD, RN, FAAN , School of Nursing, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
Stephen Vogel, MD , Occupational Medicine, NorthShore Medical Group, Glenview, IL
Background: Firefighters' noise exposure and hearing loss has been well documented in the literature. However, little is known about their exposure to loud noise beyond their work as a firefighter. The purpose of this study is to assess noise exposures from non-occupational activities and non-firefighting jobs among firefighters.Methods: The study participants included a total of 495 American firefighters from 35 fire departments in multiple states. Firefighters completed a pretest survey as part of an ongoing hearing protection and cardiovascular disease prevention intervention. The data were collected via an online survey.Results: Participants were predominantly middle-aged (mean age= 45years), white (80%), and males (92%) who had worked in fire service for an extended period of time (mean=18 years). The majority of participants reported having non-occupational activities (97%) and second or third jobs outside of firefighting (57%), and exposure to loud noise outside of the fire service (71%). The most commonly reported non-occupational noise exposures were operating lawn equipment (70%), followed by listening to loud music (37%), shooting firearms (26%), and vehicle maintenance (20%). Only 32% used hearing protection devices in noisy non-occupational activities. Conclusion: This study demonstrated a considerable non-occupational noise exposure and low use of hearing protection devices during noisy activities. Hearing conservation programs should emphasize the importance of avoiding loud noise exposures while at work and partaking in recreational activities. Hearing conservation programs should also encourage the use of hearing protection devices to prevent hearing loss. 2-9-2012-->

Learning Areas:
Occupational health and safety

Learning Objectives:
1. To identify sources and extent of noise exposure from non-occupational activities among firefighters. 2. To discuss the need of comprehensive hearing conservation programs for firefighters

Keywords: Hearing Protection, Occupational Exposure

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am currently a postdoctoral scholar in the Occupational and Environmental Health Nursing Program at the UCSF School of Nursing. I have been involved in nationwide research and federally-funded projects focused on health promotion and protection for vulnerable population or blue-collar workers’ health behavior over the previous six years. I have also been very active and successful in publishing in both nursing and multidisciplinary journals, and presenting at various national and international professional conferences.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 3092.0: Poster Session: Occupational Hygiene and Exposure Assessment