HUBUNGAN PENGGUNAAN ALAT PELINDUNG DIRI/ EARPLUG DENGAN DERAJAT PENDENGARAN PADA PEKERJA PABRIK PT. X

Background : Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) was a type of sensorineural hearing impairment caused by exposure to sufficiently loud noise due to repeated high-amplitude noise exposure. Hearing loss depended on the level, duration of exposure, and the use of personal protective equipment such as earplugs during work.
Objective : To determine the relationship between the use of personal protective equipment/earplugs and hearing levels in factory workers.
Method : This study employed an analytical observational research method with a cohort approach, aiming to determine the relationship between the use of personal protective equipment/earplugs and hearing levels at PT. X. The sample was determined using the Slovin formula, resulting in 22 workers from the production department as the research sample. Bivariate analysis was then conducted using the Spearman analysis test.
Research Result : The results showed a relationship between the frequency of personal protective equipment/earplug use and hearing levels (P = 0.015) in the right ear and (P = 0.000) in the left ear. Additionally, there was a relationship between the duration of earplug use and hearing levels (P = 0.030) in the right ear and (P = 0.035) in the left ear.
Conclusion : The conclusion of this study was that there was a relationship between the frequency of earplug use and the duration of earplug use with hearing levels.