Perceptions of occupational noise, hearing protection, and risk among airport workers: a preliminary study from Kuantan, Malaysia.

Background: Occupational noise exposure remains a significant health concern in high-risk environments such as airports. High noise produced by an aircraft or its components, whether on the ground while parked, during take-off, or during landing, can cause problems for workers and nearby communities. Despite regulatory efforts, the use of hearing protection devices (HPDs) and awareness of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) vary across settings, particularly in regional airports. Objective: This preliminary study aimed to explore airport workers’ perceptions of occupational noise, identify perceived barriers to hearing protection, and examine readiness for noise-reduction behaviours among staff at Kuantan Airport, in Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia. Methods: A total of 29 Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) employees participated, representing approximately 64% of the airport's workforce. Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire assessing attitudes toward noise, perceived susceptibility to NIHL, self-efficacy, perceived benefits of noise reduction, and perceived barriers to hearing protection. Hearing screening was also conducted using pure tone audiometry and tympanometry. Results: Findings revealed high mean scores in the attitude, susceptibility, and barriers domains. Participants recognized the risks of occupational noise and expressed openness to protective behaviours. While discomfort and communication challenges were reported as barriers to HPD use, participants indicated that these challenges could be addressed through targeted interventions. Conclusion: The results highlight a strong foundation for implementing effective hearing conservation programs in regional airports. Improving HPD design, delivering tailored education, and fostering workplace engagement can enhance protective behaviours and support long-term hearing health. Future studies with larger, more diverse samples are recommended to validate and extend these findings. These preliminary findings contribute to understanding NIHL risk perception and support the design of tailored conservation strategies in underserved aviation sectors.