Abstract:Objective To analyze the occupational noise hazard of machinery industry in Zhuzhou City so as to provide a scientific basis for further developing prevention and control measures of noise hazard. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the data concerning occupational hazard detection and health inspection of machinery industry in Zhuzhou City from 2010 to 2013; meanwhile, we also analyzed the noise exposure rate, the noise intensity, the positive detective rate of hearing abnormality and other indicators. Results The mean noise intensity in the detected enterprises in Zhuzhou City during 2010-2013 was (83.63±9.68) dB, showing a downward trend year by year (Ftrend=195.36, P<0.001). The excessive noise rate of the total sites was 33.81%, showing a declining trend year by year(χ2trend=108.79, P<0.001). The total noise exposure rate of the workers was 49.35%, and the positive detective rate of hearing abnormality was 15.87%, with the highest being 23.44% in 2013. A total of 1,557 workers with hearing abnormality were detected during 2010-2013, including 968(61.92%)workers with high-frequency hearing impairment and 589(38.08%)workers with linguistic-frequency hearing impairment. The workers with hearing impairment were riveters (52.92%), welders (22.50%) and machine operators (9.92%) by occupation. Conclusions Noise is one of the main occupational hazards in machinery industry in Zhuzhou City, with the characteristics of high intensity, high excessive rate, long exposure time and high exposure frequency. The positive detective rate of hearing impairment caused by noise is high, with a majority of high frequency hearing impairment. Riveters, welders and machine operators are the critical control points of the noise hazard control.