Abstract

RODRIGUEZ MARTINEZ, Carmen  and  MARTINEZ BELLO, María del Carmen. Workplace noise exposure of personal emergency medical. Salud de los Trabajadores [online]. 2016, vol.24, n.2, pp.93-104. ISSN 1315-0138.

Wemeasured occupational exposure to noise among emergency ambulance workers, based on their perception of exposure and noise effects, work organization elements, environmental assessment and personal dosimetryover a work shift, during peak activity and by type of emergency. This was a cross-sectional study conducted in a sample of 21.4%of the workforce(30 workers), and included physicians, paramedics and drivers, with a permanent contract and more than one year on the job. Results: the average seniority was seven years; 59.6% perceived their work to beaffectedor very affected by noise, 63.3% did not report hearing loss, 93% had not sought medical attention nor undergone an audiometry, and 16.6% reported tinnitus. Only 24.5% of emergency activities are performed with the siren on andforless than 2 hours per shift. The highest noise levels were measured in the driver’s cabin with windows closed( ceiling level,95.5dBA). However, personal dosimetry measurements showeda time-weighted average of 80.4 dBA at a dose of 11%; these values do not exceed the permissible exposure level of 85 dbA. Emergency medical personnel perceive exposure to noise in their jobs; however, the Venezuelan permissible occupational exposure limit is not exceeded.We recommendthe immediate relocation of the sound source in the unit that had a level above 85 dBA and audiometric evaluation of workersto verify the absence of injury and generate peace of mind.

Keywords : transportation-related noise; occupational noise exposure; emergency medical services.

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