108 Hearing surveillance in Thai forklift drivers with environmental measurement
研究调查了泰国某工厂21名叉车司机的听力问题与噪声暴露水平，发现33.3%的工人听力异常，但环境噪声测量值未超过法规限值，提示即使噪声未超标也需关注听力保护。
<h3>Background</h3> Noise is one of physical hazards found in forklift drivers, especially with diesel engine. Thailand’s 2010 regulation on the control of noise at work is not more than 85 dBA per 8 hour-TWA. <h3>Objectives</h3> To survey the hearing problem and noise exposure of forklift drivers in a factory. <h3>Methods</h3> A cross-sectional survey was conducted during 2011–2012 among the workers. Data was collected through periodic examination and environmental measurement. A total of 21 people participated in the study (20 males, 1 female). <h3>Results</h3> The workers were 29–48 years of age and their working years were between 9 to 20 years with the average working time of 40 hours per week. The report of abnormal audiogram was 33.3% (7 people) and one case was later excluded after the repeated test was normal. Two cases were diagnosed with moderate to severe sensorineural hearing loss while the others (5 people) were diagnosed with mild SNHL. All of them were not concerned about ear protective equipment, nor did they utilize such equipment. The environmental measurement was done by sound level meter; Noise Dosimeter. Time weighted average level (8-hr-TWA) was still under the regulations, which were between 80.38 to 85.61dBA. <h3>Conclusion</h3> Hearing conservative program should be provided to high risk workers even though the noise induced hearing loss was not diagnosed. The periodic examination is important to compare with baseline audiogram.