Occupational exposure to noise in the extractive industry and earthworks – a systematic review protocol

Abstract

Occupational noise-induced hearing loss (ONIHL) is one of the most recognised occupational diseases globally. Mining and earthworks are among those with the greatest impact in this matter. A systematic review addressing the noise exposure characterisation, in order to develop a preventive design, is being proposed in this protocol. The Preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis protocols (PRISMA-P) guidelines were used to draw the research outline, where the study and report characteristics are provided. All of the selected keywords and databases/journals were priorly identified and are now presented. The search methodology is clarified, and an example for Scopus is provided. A methodology to deal with bias within studies is proposed, and all the systematic review narrative processes of the systematic review are discussed in the protocol, including information that will be extracted from the selected records. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis guidelines will be used to help develop the review.