The effect of vocational training provided to workers in the glass factory on the use of ear protectors

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of vocational training on ear protection use for workers working in noisy departments of a glass factory. Method: The research was carried out with 45 workers who were selected by purposeful sampling among non-probable sampling methods working in a special glass production factory established in Atatürk Organized Industrial Zone in İzmir Çiğli. The data were collected on 02.02.2019-13.07.2019 and it was carried out with a quasi-experimental type, pre-test and post-test. Data were evaluated using number-percentage, Cohen Kappa chi-square analysis, paired sample t-test, independent t-test, mann whitney u, one-way analysis of variance, analysis of variance in repeated measures, correlation analysis and Bonferroni paired comparison of Post Hoc tests. Results: In this study, it was determined that ear protection was not used before the training and some occupational health complaints related to noise (headache, tinnitus, decrease in hearing, fatigue, etc.) were found to be increased as a result of vocational training (57.8%) and health complaints decreased. The average score of hearing health information questionnaire of pre-training workers is 11.46∓3.20, The mean score of the hearing health information questionnaire after the training was found to be 13.77∓3.42 in the first month and 15.77∓2.88 in the fourth month. Conclusion: It was determined that the vocational training given to the workers increased the level of knowledge and ear protection. It was a fool that an improvement occurred in health problems caused by work-related noise after training. Health examinations and periodic follow-up and follow-up for hearing health; It is recommended to conduct regular trainings for public health nurses to increase the ear protection and knowledge level of workers. Key words: Occupational disease, ear protection, occupational health, vocational training, glass factory.