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The aim of this study is to determine the relationship between knowledge and attitude toward using hearing protection devices as a safe behavior. Also, it is intended to analyze the role of individuals and job characteristics on using earplugs or earmuffs. In this study, workers participated from 16 printing industries located in five areas of Tehran province and completed the questionnaire knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) about hearing conservation. Noise measurement was performed based on participants' tasks. With increasing attitude, practice improved (P = 0.001). The results revealed that positive attitude led to improved practice of workers in hearing conservation (r = 0.172; P < 0.001), and with increasing knowledge, negative attitude diminished (P = 0.014). The results indicated that awareness is correlated with attitude, and attitude could directly affect the behavior. Thus, awareness as an intermediate or primary factor might play an important role in developing safe behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a technique for identifying the best efficient method of noise reduction (BEMNR) by fuzzy expert system in the reverse osmosis (RO) water unit at Fajr petrochemical complex located in south west of Iran at north west of Persian Gulf shore. For this purpose seven methods have been chosen through consultation with health, safety, and environment (HSE) department as follows: enclosure design for pumps, enclosure design for control valve, simultaneous enclosure design for both control valve and pumps, wrapping pipes, using frequency convertor pumps, covering interior wall with sound absorber material and installing ceiling baffle. Noise reduction, cost, applicability, interference have been selected as the selection criteria. Finally, enclosure design for control valve (CV) (method 2) by scoring 72.92% has been proposed as the BEMNR. The results obtained by fuzzy logic had an acceptable level of compliance with experts' survey results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]