Safety and Health at Work Vol. 11 Issue 3 2020
The Association Between Occupational Exposure to HandeArm Vibration and Hearing Loss: A Systematic Literature Review (Review Article)
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Title
Safety and Health at Work Vol. 11 Issue 3 2020
The Association Between Occupational Exposure to HandeArm Vibration and Hearing Loss: A Systematic Literature Review (Review Article)
The Association Between Occupational Exposure to HandeArm Vibration and Hearing Loss: A Systematic Literature Review (Review Article)
Subject
Hand-arm vibration, Hearing loss, Raynaud, Vibration, White finger
Description
Background: Hearing loss is one of the most prevalent worker health conditions worldwide. Although the effect of noise exposure on hearing is well researched, other workplace exposures may account for significant hearing loss. The aim of this review was to determine whether occupational handearm vibration exposure through use of power or pneumatic tools, independent of noise exposure, is associated with permanent hearing loss. Do workers suffer from handearm vibrationeinduced hearing loss?
Methods: Peer-reviewed articles published in English between 1981 and 2020 were identified through five online databases with five search keywords. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines, including online database search methodology, study selection, article exclusion, and assessment of potential study design confounders and biases, were followed.
Results: Database searches retrieved 697 articles. Fifteen articles that reported 17 studies met the criteria for review. All but two studies revealed statistically significant associations between occupational exposure to handearm vibration and hearing loss. The majority of the study results revealed associations between handearm vibration and hearing loss, independent of potential age and noise confounders.
Conclusion: Few studies have examined the association between occupational exposure to hand-arm vibration and hearing loss. Dose response data were limited as only one study measured vibration intensity and duration. Although the majority of studies identified statistically significant associations, causal relationships could not be determined. Further research using standardized and uniform measurement protocols is needed to confirm whether the association between occupational exposure to handearm vibration and permanent hearing loss is causal and the mechanism(s).
Methods: Peer-reviewed articles published in English between 1981 and 2020 were identified through five online databases with five search keywords. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines, including online database search methodology, study selection, article exclusion, and assessment of potential study design confounders and biases, were followed.
Results: Database searches retrieved 697 articles. Fifteen articles that reported 17 studies met the criteria for review. All but two studies revealed statistically significant associations between occupational exposure to handearm vibration and hearing loss. The majority of the study results revealed associations between handearm vibration and hearing loss, independent of potential age and noise confounders.
Conclusion: Few studies have examined the association between occupational exposure to hand-arm vibration and hearing loss. Dose response data were limited as only one study measured vibration intensity and duration. Although the majority of studies identified statistically significant associations, causal relationships could not be determined. Further research using standardized and uniform measurement protocols is needed to confirm whether the association between occupational exposure to handearm vibration and permanent hearing loss is causal and the mechanism(s).
Creator
Michael H. Weier
Publisher
Elsevier Korea LLC
Date
September 2020
Contributor
Sri Wahyuni
Format
PDF
Language
English
Type
Text
Coverage
Safety and Health at Work Vol. 11 Issue 3 2020
Files
Citation
Michael H. Weier, “Safety and Health at Work Vol. 11 Issue 3 2020
The Association Between Occupational Exposure to HandeArm Vibration and Hearing Loss: A Systematic Literature Review (Review Article),” Repository Horizon University Indonesia, accessed March 12, 2025, https://repository.horizon.ac.id/items/show/2031.
The Association Between Occupational Exposure to HandeArm Vibration and Hearing Loss: A Systematic Literature Review (Review Article),” Repository Horizon University Indonesia, accessed March 12, 2025, https://repository.horizon.ac.id/items/show/2031.