الفهرس 
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Abstract
The metal equipment industry is used to produce structural parts and components that have widespread applications in many industries including automobile, aerospace, agricultural equipment, and appliances. They include a wide range of operations which deform sheet or tube metal to form the component with the desired geometry and shape [1]. Workers in metal fabrication are exposed to the hazardous composition of the welding fumes, noise and vibration that may lead to acute and chronic health effects. Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify occupational respiratory and auditory disorders among workers, and to assess the level of safety measures applied in agricultural equipment factory (Tanta motors factory) in Tanta City, Gharbia Governorate. Subjects and methods: The study was a comparative cross-sectional study, started from October 2021 in Tanta Motors company. The study included 120 male workers and an equal number of 120 administrative male workers as comparative group. An interview questionnaire was filled to collect required data. Clinical examination was done including general ana local examination, also spirometry and audiometry were done for all workers. The latest edition of the Occupational Safety and Health Inspection Checklist (2016) was used and filled out by the researcher to check safety measures available and applied in the workplace environment. The results of the current study can be summarized as follow: All workers in study and control groups were males with the mean age of (44.9±8.9) and (46.5±8.9) respectively. Regarding their educational level (59.2% - 63.3%) respectively were intermediate education. As well as more than half (65%-66.7%) respectively were from rural areas. Regarding their marital status, the majority of workers (90%-89.2%) respectively were married. Type of exposure among the studied workers. Regarding study group, the majority of workers were expose to Noise (93.3%), followed by heat and vibration among nearly three fourths of workers (79.7% - 71.7%) respectively, also nearly two thirds (58.3%) of workers were exposed to gases and lower percentage were exposed to dust (35%), humidity (22.5%). The most used PPE among study group workers were overshoes (100%) followed by apron (85%). Also, more than half of them were using gloves (58.3%). While eye goggles and face cover were used less (37.5%-30.8%respectively). There was significant difference between study and control groups regarding the cough (41.7%- 11.7% respectively). Also, sputum among study and control groups with (14.2%-5.8% respectively), and wheeze (25% - 8.3% respectively). Regarding dyspnea with (31.7%) versus (7.5%) respectively. There were significant lower mean values of FVC%, FEV1% and FEV1/FVC% among the study group than the controls (P<0.05). Half of study group workers (55%) had normal ventilatory functions followed by combined pattern of ventilatory dysfunction among (19.2%) of them, while in control group the majority of workers (94.2%) had normal respiratory functions followed by Restrictive pattern in (2.4%) of them. Hearing threshold levels ”dB” were significantly higher among the study group than the control group at frequencies of 250 and 8000 Hz (P <0.05) in both right and left ear regarding air conduction which was higher in frequency of4000 HZ more than other frequencies. The majority of study workers suffered from hearing loss in their right ear with nearly equal percentage for mild and moderate hearing loss (43.3%-40.8%) and about (35.6%) among them showing v notch shape. The majority of study workers suffered from hearing loss in the left ear with (48.3%) mild and (32.5%) moderate hearing loss, and (42.3%) among them showing v notch shape. According to the percentages of fulfilled items of the Occupational Safety and Health Inspection Checklist, it was found that training and awareness measures were the most domain to be covered (100%) followed by the same percentage (85.7%) for both of electrical hazards and occupational safety and health management system followed by (83.3%) for medical examinations. The most prevalent non-controlled hazards in the workplace were negative risks as it was found that only 20%of its items were covered followed by storage and warehouses (33.3%). Noise level exceeded the permissible level at four sectors in factory, with a mean of (84.33±7.94). Light intensity was from 200-500 lux at five sectors in factory and more than 500 in one sector, with a mean of 405.83±289.8 lux. Heat stress, total dust, welding fumes and VOCs in specific sections in the factory, it was found that heat stress exceed permissible level in welding section, while sand washing section is exposed to total dust with the highest level 5.1 μg/m. Also, welding fumes were within permissible level in both welding and cutting sections. As regarding VOCs was measured only in painting section and it was exceeding permissible level 255 μg/m.