Evaluation of relation between noise exposure and occupational stress with unsafe acts and accidents in city bus drivers in Hamadan, 2011

Among all systems that one Person is interacting daily; public transportation system makes him/her vulnerable to various risks. The noise exposure in drivers can cause accidents through developing hearing loss and stress and Consequent Impact on driver safety performance. The main objective of this study was to evaluation of relation between noise exposure and occupational stress with unsafe acts and car accidents among city-bus drivers in Hamadan. This cross-sectional study was conducted in spring of 2011. Fifty four drivers were chosen using simple random sampling among Hamadan city bus drivers. The required data gathering was done by using sound level meter, job stress questionnaire, personal characteristics questionnaire, safety behavior sampling technique and checklist of accidents. Data analysis was done with Statistical tests such as t-test, logistic regression and one-way ANOVA. The study results indicated that 76% of drivers are at a high stress level, Percent of unsafe acts was 42.71% and their noise exposure is at high risk conditions. Also results show that accident’s and unsafe act’s probability increase with increasing noise exposure and job stress. Because of high stress level, high percent of unsafe acts and noise exposure in studied drivers, they are vulnerable to accident. Thus decreasing stress level and unsafe acts through implementation of a comprehensive stress management program and education of drivers about following safety is required