Hearing loss: 9th International Congress on Noise as a Public Health Problem (ICBEN) 2008, Foxwoods, CT Personal noise exposure assessment of overhead-traveling crane drivers in steel-rolling mills

Noise is one of the most widespread occupational hazardous agents. It’s attributable for 16 % mortality and morbidity due to occupational exposures for global burden of occupational disease and injury (Nelson et al. 2005). According to the World Health Organization (WHO), noise-induced hearing impairment is the most common irreversible (and preventable) occupational hazards world-wide. And in most developing countries, industrial noise levels are higher than those in developed countries (Nelson & Schwela 2001). Many countries around the world had developed Hearing Conservation Programs to protect the workers. Noise exposure assessment is the first step in a Hearing Conservation Program. Noise exposure in steel plants is well known for being one of the highest among all industries both in developed and developing countries. According to International Labour Organization (ILO), the iron and steel industry is the most important industry in China. Overhead-traveling cranes are widely used in this industry, but few studies characterizing overhead-traveling crane drivers’ noise exposure levels have been published so far. According to Legrisa and Poulinb, personal noise exposure levels among crane drivers they had measured using noise dosimeters ranged from 74 to 97 dB(A), depending on the carrying capacity and whether the crane had an insulated cab or not (Legrisa & Poulinb 1998).