Medical Journal of Dr. D.Y. Patil Vidyapeeth

ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Year
: 2015  |  Volume : 8  |  Issue : 1  |  Page : 12--15

A rapid appraisal of traffic policemen about auditory effects of traffic noise pollution from Ambala city


Abhishek Singh1, Ashish Bansal2, Shewtank Goel3, Pawan Kumar Goel1, Pankaj Chhikara4, Nand Kishore Singh1 
1 Department of Community Medicine, SHKM Govt. Medical College, Haryana, India
2 Department of Pathology, MSDS Medical College, Uttar Pradesh, India
3 Department of Microbiology, MSDS Medical College, Uttar Pradesh, India
4 Department of Forensic Medicine, PGIMS, Rohatak, Haryana, India

Correspondence Address:
Abhishek Singh
Department of Community Medicine, SHKM Govt. Medical College Nalhar (Mewat) (Haryana)
India

Context: Traffic policemen are at an increased risk of suffering from hazards of noise pollution because they are engaged in controlling traffic noise, particularly at heavy traffic junctions. The effect is more in this subgroup because they are continuously exposed to it. Aim: The present study was aimed at assessing the knowledge, attitude and practices of traffic policemen regarding auditory effects of traffic noise pollution in Ambala city. Settings and Design: Cross-sectional workplace survey. Materials and Methods: The present descriptive study was carried out in different traffic zones of Ambala city during April-June 2013. The study population consisted of 100 traffic policemen working in different traffic intersections of Ambala city. Statistical Analysis Used: Structured interview schedule was used to collect the data. SPSS version 17.0 was used for analysis. Interpretation of data was performed using percentages and proportions. Results: Majority (75%) of the study subjects were exposed to traffic noise pollution for more than 5 years. Of the total subjects, 5% of respondents reported below-average hearing on self-assessment of hearing ability. Seventeen percent of the study population accepted that while hearing over phone they do miss some conversation. Most (98%) of the traffic police did not use any personal protective equipment (PPEs) like earplugs/earmuffs, and the non-availability of these PPEs (90%) is the common reason for the hearing loss. Conclusions: The study concludes that traffic policemen are not much aware regarding impending auditory effects of traffic noise pollution. Duty rotation, duty scheduling and other forms of preventive modalities for exposure limitation are suggested.


How to cite this article:
Singh A, Bansal A, Goel S, Goel PK, Chhikara P, Singh NK. A rapid appraisal of traffic policemen about auditory effects of traffic noise pollution from Ambala city.Med J DY Patil Univ 2015;8:12-15


How to cite this URL:
Singh A, Bansal A, Goel S, Goel PK, Chhikara P, Singh NK. A rapid appraisal of traffic policemen about auditory effects of traffic noise pollution from Ambala city. Med J DY Patil Univ [serial online] 2015 [cited 2024 Mar 29 ];8:12-15
Available from: https://journals.lww.com/mjdy/pages/default.aspx/article.asp?issn=0975-2870;year=2015;volume=8;issue=1;spage=12;epage=15;aulast=Singh;type=0