(PP703) Visual Comprehension Supports as a Means to Enhance Workers Awareness of Unsafe Noise Levels

Occupational noise exposure continues to be problematic despite regulations by The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and efforts of conservation programs. In 2019 the Veterans Health Administration reported that a total of 3,651,672 individuals were compensated for auditory related injuries.  This data is reflective of civilians across America who, like veterans, work in and around environments that expose them to unsafe noise levels. Workers are often provided with hearing protection and instructed to wear it in environments of 85 or more decibels on an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA). The problem is that workers cannot subjectively determine which sounds are 85 decibels.  Although some workplaces might include warning signs in a given building, employees who work out in the field or at various job sites aren’t made aware of which tools produce high noise levels.  In order to remediate this, three images were designed using ANSI standards, printed as stickers, and placed on tools and equipment.  The purpose of this research was to determine if workers need to be familiarized prior to sticker placement, or if workers comprehend them regardless of training. 

Seven businesses that require employees to work in loud environments or with loud equipment participated. 33 participants aged 23 to 68 volunteered for participation, and were divided into either the educational group or the non-educational group.  Only participants in the educational group were told what each sticker’s message conveyed. Sound measurements were taken at each location using a sound level meter.  Three different stickers were placed on equipment according to the corresponding decibel level range (50-84 dB, 85-100 dB, and 101+ dB). It was hypothesized that workers in the education group were more likely to achieve greater comprehension. This hypothesis was supported by similar studies which found that comprehension of visual symbols and warnings are most effective when accompanied by familiarization via training or education (Lesch, 2003; Jaynes & Boles, 1990). 

Stickers were placed for one month.  Interviews consisted of a series of questions in four categories: detection, discrimination, identification, and comprehension. A t-test was used to analyze the data, and a post-hoc analysis was conducted to determine other areas of interest such as level of education, years of experience, etc. It was found that stickers were effective regardless of familiarization. This is likely due to the effective design of the stickers since it was also found that two of the stickers were very well understood, whereas all participants had difficulty comprehending the third sticker. 

The implication of this finding is that two of the images could be applied directly to tools and equipment without educating workers prior to placement. The purpose of this study was not to assess compliance, (or if workers actually wore hearing protection), but as a solution for employers who might be able to relinquish liability for workers compensation claims related to auditory injury. This research is unique in that it marries multiple disciplines like human factors psychology, occupational safety, and audiology in order to create a unique solution to a perpetual issue.