Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Nabibagh, Bhopal-462038 (M.P.)
Online published on 13 December, 2017.
Noise is a critical occupational hazard, which affect the tractor driver's health and safety. Extended exposure to noisy environment results in hearing loss of the individuals. The objective of this study was to estimate the hearing impairment of tractor drivers involved in agricultural operations in Bhopal district of M.P. In this study, 60 healthy male subjects of similar age, height and weight were divided into two groups of 30 subjects each viz. tractor drivers with more than 10 years of experience and office workers as controls. The audiometric testing of both the ears of the selected subjects was conducted at frequencies of 0.125, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 8 kHz. The hearing threshold levels of office workers at audiometric test frequencies did not exceed 25 dB(A) to cause hearing handicap. However, it exceeded 25 dB(A) for tractor drivers (>10 years of experience). Statistical analysis of the data revealed significant difference in audiometric profile of the tractor drivers in comparison to the office workers. Overall results indicated that long term and continuous exposure to noise from the tractor was the principle cause of the poor audiometric status of the tractor drivers.
