Questionnaire-based algorithm for assessing occupational noise exposure of construction workers.

OBJECTIVES: Occupational noise exposure is a major cause of hearing loss worldwide. In order to inform preventative strategies, we need to further understand at a population level which workers are most at risk. METHODS: We have developed a new questionnaire-based algorithm that evaluates an individ...

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Main Authors: Lewkowski, K., McCausland, K., Heyworth, J., Li, I., Williams, W., Fritschi, Lin
Format: Journal Article
Published: 2017
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/65724
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author Lewkowski, K.
McCausland, K.
Heyworth, J.
Li, I.
Williams, W.
Fritschi, Lin
author_facet Lewkowski, K.
McCausland, K.
Heyworth, J.
Li, I.
Williams, W.
Fritschi, Lin
author_sort Lewkowski, K.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description OBJECTIVES: Occupational noise exposure is a major cause of hearing loss worldwide. In order to inform preventative strategies, we need to further understand at a population level which workers are most at risk. METHODS: We have developed a new questionnaire-based algorithm that evaluates an individual worker's noise exposure. The questionnaire and supporting algorithms are embedded into the existing software platform, OccIDEAS. Based on the tasks performed by a worker during their most recent working shift and using a library of task-based noise exposure levels, OccIDEAS estimates whether a worker has exceeded the full-shift workplace noise exposure limit (LAeq,8h=85 dBA). We evaluated the validity of the system in a sample of 100 construction workers. Each worker wore a dosimeter for a full working shift and was then interviewed using the OccIDEAS software. RESULTS: The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.81 (95% CI 0.72 to 0.90) indicating that the ability of OccIDEAS to identify construction workers with an LAeq,8h=85 dBA was excellent. CONCLUSION: This validated noise questionnaire may be useful in epidemiological studies and for workplace health and safety applications.
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institution Curtin University Malaysia
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-657242020-06-02T02:06:35Z Questionnaire-based algorithm for assessing occupational noise exposure of construction workers. Lewkowski, K. McCausland, K. Heyworth, J. Li, I. Williams, W. Fritschi, Lin OBJECTIVES: Occupational noise exposure is a major cause of hearing loss worldwide. In order to inform preventative strategies, we need to further understand at a population level which workers are most at risk. METHODS: We have developed a new questionnaire-based algorithm that evaluates an individual worker's noise exposure. The questionnaire and supporting algorithms are embedded into the existing software platform, OccIDEAS. Based on the tasks performed by a worker during their most recent working shift and using a library of task-based noise exposure levels, OccIDEAS estimates whether a worker has exceeded the full-shift workplace noise exposure limit (LAeq,8h=85 dBA). We evaluated the validity of the system in a sample of 100 construction workers. Each worker wore a dosimeter for a full working shift and was then interviewed using the OccIDEAS software. RESULTS: The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.81 (95% CI 0.72 to 0.90) indicating that the ability of OccIDEAS to identify construction workers with an LAeq,8h=85 dBA was excellent. CONCLUSION: This validated noise questionnaire may be useful in epidemiological studies and for workplace health and safety applications. 2017 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/65724 10.1136/oemed-2017-104381 restricted
spellingShingle Lewkowski, K.
McCausland, K.
Heyworth, J.
Li, I.
Williams, W.
Fritschi, Lin
Questionnaire-based algorithm for assessing occupational noise exposure of construction workers.
title Questionnaire-based algorithm for assessing occupational noise exposure of construction workers.
title_full Questionnaire-based algorithm for assessing occupational noise exposure of construction workers.
title_fullStr Questionnaire-based algorithm for assessing occupational noise exposure of construction workers.
title_full_unstemmed Questionnaire-based algorithm for assessing occupational noise exposure of construction workers.
title_short Questionnaire-based algorithm for assessing occupational noise exposure of construction workers.
title_sort questionnaire-based algorithm for assessing occupational noise exposure of construction workers.
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/65724