Efektivitas Pemakaian Alat Pelindung Pendengaran dalam Mengendalikan Tekanan Darah Pekerja yang Terpapar Kebisingan di Unit Produksi PT Sinar Sosro Kantor Pabrik Deli Serdang

Abstract

The intensity of noise mean value at the production unit of PT Sinar Sosro Deli Serdang Factory is > 85 dB (A) and most of the workers do not use hearing protector. Noise is one of the physical environmental stressor, which in a short time, can cause a temporary increase of blood pressure through the stimulation or activation of the sympathetic nerve and at a certain time, tends to be a hypertension. The proper use of hearing protector can reduce the mean noise level at receiver. To examine the effectiveness of using hearing protector in controlling blood pressure of the workers in noise exposure > 85 dB (A) at the production unit of PT Sinar Sosro Deli Serdang Factory, a quasi experimental study with the one group pre test and post test design were carried out. The research population is 85 workers in noise exposure > 85 dB (A) for 8 hours/day or 40 hours/week. Through the purposive sampling technique, 34 workers who work in the morning shift were selected to be the samples. But after being screened through inclusive and exclusive criteria, 18 workers are qualified to be the true samples for this study. The data for this study were collected by measuring the mean noise level, taking place in every production process, measuring the workers' blood pressure before and after they work without hearing protector and after using hearing protector, doing interviews, directly observation, and examining the documentations of company. After the intervention by using standard ear plug ANSI S3.19: 1974 with NRR 25 dB (A), the systolic blood pressure changes for an average of 9.4444 mmHg and the diastolic blood pressure changes for an average of 7.7778 mmHg were obtained, and with the paired sample "t" test through SPSS version 13, the results are significant (p=0,00) with α = 5%, so the conclusion can be drawn that the hearing protector is effective in controlling blood pressure of the workers in noise exposure at the production unit of PT Sinar Sosro Deli Serdang Factory.