Assessment of temporary hearing changes related to work as a bartender
Journal Title: Medycyna Pracy - Year 2019, Vol 70, Issue 1
Abstract
Background: Noise in entertainment industry often reaches high sound pressure levels. Nevertheless, the risk of hearing loss in this sector is insufficiently recognized. The aim of this study was the assessment of the relationship between noise exposure and temporary threshold shifts (TTS) for people working as bartenders at a variety of entertainment venues. Material and Methods: The study comprised a total of 18 bartenders (mean age was 25±7 years old) employed at a music club (N = 8), pub (N = 5) and discotheque (N = 5). Personal dosimeters were used for determining noise levels and frequency characteristics. Hearing was evaluated by pre- (before work) and post-exposure (up to 15 min after the end of work) pure tone audiometry. Hearing tests were carried out for bartenders during 2 or 3 sessions while working on weekends. Results: The mean personal noise exposure level normalized to a nominal 8-hour working day was 95 dBA, above 4 times higher than the accepted legal limit. The TTS values (10 dB HL or more) were significant at 4 kHz for both ears for 77% of bartenders. Conclusions: People working as bartenders represent a professional group with an increased risk of hearing loss. Raising awareness of this fact and implementing hearing protection programs in this group of workers is urgently needed, in line with the European Commission Directive (EU Directive 2003/10/EC). Med Pr. 2019;70(1):17–25
Authors and Affiliations
Anna Wolniakowska, Kamil Zaborowski, Adam Dudarewicz, Małgorzata Pawlaczyk-Łuszczyńska, Mariola Śliwińska-Kowalska
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP478031
- DOI 10.13075/mp.5893.00734
- Views 165
- Downloads 0
Types of falls and strategies for maintaining stability on an unstable surface
Background: Falls constitute an important health issue. They cause significant morbidity, mortality and have marked psychological effects on the individual, too. The aim of this study has been to determine parameters des...
NANOMATERIALS - PROPOSALS OF OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE LIMITS IN THE WORLD AND HYGIENE STANDARDS IN POLAND
Currently, there are no legally binding workplace exposure limits for substances in the form of nanoobjects. There are different approaches to risk assessment and determination of occupational exposure limits. The purpos...
Assessment of fungal aerosol exposure at selected workplaces contaminated with organic dust of different origin
Background: In recent years, the number of people suffering from diseases caused by fungi has been increasing. However, knowledge of the biodiversity of fungal pathogens in the work environment is still insufficient. The...
Assessment of the type of farmers’ low back pain
Background: Spinal overload among blue-collar workers occurs most frequently in the lumbar spine. Long-lasting spinal overload results in pain syndromes leading to limitations in everyday and professional life. Material...
PERFECTIONISM, SELECTED DEMOGRAPHIC AND JOB CHARACTERISTICS AS PREDICTORS OF BURNOUT IN OPERATING SUITE NURSES
Background: The study was aimed at verifying the predictive power of perfectionism for professional burnout among nurses exposed to distress resulting from work in an operating suite and testing whether this effect exist...