Prevention of occupational hearing loss in a beer industry at Lages: comparison with the law 19 (1998) and with the NIOSH recommendations

Abstract

This study aimed to compare the hearing loss prevention program adopted by a Brazilian company to the pertinent legislation (Brasil, Portaria 19, de 9 de abril de 1998) and the recommendations found in the Preventing Occupational Hearing Loss: a Practical Guide, by Franks, Stephenson and Merry, NIOSH, 1966. Audiometric data from a beer manufacturer for the period of 1995 to 1998 was analyzed. Two groups of workers were studied, divided into those exposed to noise levels above 85 dB(A) and below 85 dBA, for eight-hour periods. Different percentage of significant threshold shift was found between the two groups, suggesting that despite the company’s efforts to comply with the legal requirements, it is not achieving success in preventing noise-induced hearing loss. The weaknesses of the adopted program were identified and areas were improvement is needed were presented. The NIOSH recommendations are more complete and detailed than the Brazilian regulations. We concluded that it would be useful for workers and occupational health professionals to have a similar guide available in Portuguese.