Abstract

DIAS, Adriano; CORDEIRO, Ricardo  and  GONCALVES, Cláudia Giglio de Oliveira. Occupational noise exposure and work accidents. Cad. Saúde Pública [online]. 2006, vol.22, n.10, pp. 2125-2130. ISSN 0102-311X.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0102-311X2006001000018.

The purpose of this study was to verify whether occupational noise exposure is a significant risk factor for work accidents in the city of Piracicaba, São Paulo State, Brazil. This hospital-based case-control study included 600 workers aged 15-60 who suffered typical occupational accidents between May and October 2004 and were seen at the Piracicaba Orthopedics and Trauma Center. The control group comprised 822 workers, aged 15-60, who were also seen at the Center, and either had a non-occupational accident or were accompanying someone who had suffered an accident. A multiple logistic regression model was adjusted with work accident as an independent variable, controlled by covariables of interest such as noise exposure. The risk of having a work accident was about twice as high among workers exposed to noise, after controlling for several covariables. Occupational noise exposure not only affected auditory health status but was also a risk factor for work accidents.

Keywords : Occupational Noise; Occupational Accidents; Occupational Risks.