Combined effect of noise and variable shift work in worker's hearing

Introduction
Working in shift has been every more time set in the world and, due to this demand, a worker needed to adapt to this rhythm of work, however being subjected to health implications. The objective was to analyze the work impact in changing shift in hearing health of workers exposed to noise.

Methods
Therefore, a questionnaire was applied and an audiometry was carried out in workers, separated in two shifts: changing and day shift.

Results
It was checked the audiometric appraisal doesn’t depend on the shift (p>0,05). However, when comparing noise-induced hearing loss in both groups, it resulted that the value of p=0,056 and a variance was identified significantly bigger for the changing shift. In this group, it was found a predominance of hearing and extra-hearing symptoms/complaints as regard to day shift, however with no related and significant statistic, except cephalalgia and sleep modification.

Discussion
Less occurrence and symptoms/complaints was found in this population than what was referred in literature, what can be justified by the use of hearing protector and performed actions in HLPP. Found results indicate a need of setting a hearing loss prevention program (HLPP), whose planned actions have a systematic follow up for the hearing health of workers in changing shift.