Analysis on Occupational Health Physical Examination Results among Noise-exposed Workers in Lanzhou in 2016

Objectives To understand the health status of noise-exposed workers in Lanzhou in 2016, and to provide a scientific basis for the prevention of occupational injury among workers and for occupational health management in enterprises.

Methods The health card of workers reported in 2016 were collected from occupational health inspection organization.A descriptive statistical analysis was conducted on abnormal blood pressure, abnormal electrocardiogram and binaural high-frequency average hearing threshold abnormality in noise-exposed workers.

Results There were 6 044 noise-exposed workers participating in an occupational health examination in 2016 in Lanzhou.The average age was 41.93 ±8.91, and the median of the length of service was 5 years.The result showed that there were 15 cases of suspected noise induced deafness (0.25%), 25 cases of occupational contraindications (0.41%), and 406 cases needed rechecking (6.72%).The detection rate of abnormal blood pressure, abnormal electrocardiogram and binaural frequency average hearing threshold abnormality were 19.76%, 20.02% and 13.62%, respectively. The detection rates were higher in male than that in female (χ²=25.60, χ²=8.08, χ²=25.60, P < 0.05). The detection rates were statistically different in different ages (χ²=179.25, χ²=56.82, χ²=19.43, P < 0.05), statistically different in noise-exposed workers with different lengths of service time (χ²=130.54, χ²=77.19, χ²=31.94, P < 0.05), and different indifferent sectors(χ²=123.24, χ²=456.70, χ²=109.85, P < 0.05).There were no significant differences on the detection rate of hypertension, abnormal electrocardiogram and binaural frequency average hearing threshold abnormality in workers in different enterprise scale, simply contacting with noise and other factors combined with noise exposure.

Conclusions Long term exposure to noisy environment could induce high blood pressure, abnormal ECG and hearing loss in workers.More attention should be paid to key enterprises and key groups by carrying out publicity and education, raising the awareness on noise hazards, and implementing hearing protection projects for staffs.