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Med. Pr. 2002;53(1)

Intramural hearing protection program as a response to health needs of the working population in the region of świętokrzyskie

Zakładowy program ochrony słuchu jako odpowiedź na potrzeby zdrowotne populacji pracujących z terenu województwa świętokrzyskieg

Anna Mikołajczyk

Abstract

The program of health promotion in the area of hearing protection (IHPP) is proposed as a part of Operational Target 8 of the National Health Program "Reducing exposure to harmful factors in the living,working and educational environment and mitigating their health effects" and corresponds with the aims of the Strategic Governmental Program on Health Protection and Safety at Work.
Both in Poland and in the region of swietokrzyskie there is an urgent need to undertake appropriate steps to protect the hearing organ in the working population against harmful effects present in the work environment. It is estimated that 25% of diagnosed occupational diseases is associated with occupational hearing loss. The program is addressed to workers exposed to noise at work.
To achieve the main goal of the program it is necessary: to reduce noise emissions and exposure to noise in the work environment; to promote behavior conducive to hearing protection among workers exposed to noise; to improve the quality of prevention in the occupational health services responsible for hearing protection.
The Regional Center of Occupational Medicine in Kielce (coordinator) and primary units of occupational health service are involved in the implementation of the program, whereas, employers, occupational safety and health services, the State Labor Inspectorate and Sanitary Inspectorate participate in its implementation It is expected that the program in the region of świętokrzyskie will yield the following expected results:the reduction of noise emission to safe levels;the increased awareness of using optimal hearing protectors among noise-exposed workers; the decreased number of workers with diagnosed noise-induced hearing loss, and the decrease in the number of new cases of occupational hearing impairment.

Key words

necessities, health promotion, program, protection of audition