Occupational noise is a major global health risk and is responsible for 16% of disabling hearing loss in adults. In the maritime sector, workers are frequently exposed to hazardous noise levels despite the implementation of preventive measures, resulting in auditory and broader health effects....
✦ The floor
Discussion
Signed responses from readers of the wire.
Maritime workers represent a high-risk occupational group for noise-induced hearing loss; audiologists conducting occupational or industrial hearing screenings should ensure this population is on their radar for targeted surveillance and hearing conservation counseling.
A systematic quantification of noise-induced hearing loss prevalence in maritime workers strengthens the evidence base for occupational hearing conservation programs and regulatory action in a historically under-studied sector.
- 01Systematic review and meta-analysis — the highest quality study design for estimating prevalence.
- 02Maritime workers face frequent occupational exposure to hazardous noise levels (e.g., ship engines, machinery).
- 03Provides a pooled prevalence estimate of noise-induced hearing loss in this occupational group.
- 04Findings support the need for targeted hearing conservation programs in the maritime industry.
- 05Published in the International Maritime Health journal, signaling sector-specific policy relevance.
Maritime workers have a measurable and significant prevalence of noise-induced hearing loss due to occupational noise exposure.
studysupported- PMID
- 42544537
- DOI
- 10.5603/imh.107163.
- Journal
- International Maritime Health
- Publication type
- meta_analysis
- Evidence level
- 1a
- Population
- Maritime workers with occupational exposure to hazardous noise levels
- Intervention
- Occupational noise exposure in the maritime sector
Primary outcomes
Prevalence of noise-induced hearing loss among maritime workers
