Shunde, a corporate noise diagnosis confirmed 18 people

Eighteen companies in Shunde have confirmed cases of noise-related health issues among their workers.

Master Li, a worker at a container truck factory in Shunde, has been employed there for seven years. According to his account, he began experiencing hearing loss in early 2012, along with symptoms like tinnitus and neurasthenia. His wife told reporters that at first, communication within the family became difficult, as Master Li often complained that others were speaking too quietly. At 50 years old, he initially believed the issue was age-related. However, in late 2012, the factory ceased operations and relocated overseas. Workers were required to undergo medical examinations before leaving. The results shocked the Shunde workplace: over 100 employees had abnormal hearing, and dozens showed signs of pneumoconiosis. In 2013, 18 workers were officially diagnosed with noise-induced occupational diseases, while nearly 10 others were suspected of having pneumoconiosis.

According to staff from the Foshan Vocational Disease Prevention Institute, most of the factory’s workers operated in enclosed containers, where high levels of noise and dust were generated during production. This environment caused significant damage to their hearing. Additionally, the factory had not conducted regular health check-ups for its workers for many years. As a result, this company now has the highest number of noise-related occupational disease diagnoses in Foshan.

Every year, about 30 new cases of noise-induced hearing loss are reported.

Chen Song, director of the Foshan City Occupational Disease Prevention Office, explained that due to limitations in testing equipment, hearing tests are not typically included in routine occupational health exams. “In recent years, we’ve found that many companies operate in environments that can lead to noise exposure,” he said. Foshan started collecting data on occupational noise in 2009. Before 2012, the number of confirmed cases was single digits, but after that, the numbers increased rapidly. In 2012, 23 cases were diagnosed, 24 in 2013, and five so far this year. These figures represent only those who met the diagnostic criteria set by the city’s occupational health agencies. Many workers exposed to noise also show signs of hearing abnormalities, but since health check-up centers do not report such findings, no official data exists on the total number of people with hearing issues in the city.

Noise-induced hearing loss is a type of sensory hearing impairment that occurs when workers are exposed to excessive noise over long periods. The national standard for environmental noise in production settings is 85 decibels. However, most people cannot adapt to even 80 decibels of continuous noise. Prolonged exposure can damage hearing and lead to permanent loss. Such conditions are common in places like cafeterias, textile mills, and machinery workshops.

Protection measures include using ear protection devices when working in noisy environments. For noise levels above 108 decibels, workers should wear earplugs, earmuffs, or helmets. If the noise level reaches 118 decibels or higher, daily exposure time must be limited. All workers in hazardous areas are required to use hearing protectors. Regular hearing tests are also recommended for those who have been exposed to noise for extended periods. A pre-employment medical examination is necessary to identify individuals with existing hearing issues, so they can be assigned to low-noise jobs.

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