Assessment of noise effects at work place

Noise control;

Al-Sharifi, Faisal A. ; Watt, D. E. ; Watt, D. E.

University:University of St Andrews

Department:Medicine (School of)

关键词: Noise control;   

Others  :  https://research-repository.st-andrews.ac.uk/bitstream/handle/10023/10928/FaisalAl-SharifiPhDThesis.pdf?sequence=2&isAllowed=y

来源: DR-NTU

【 摘 要 】

Noise is considered to be a physical form of environmental pollution which caninfluence the health of exposed persons. Excessive exposure to noise can interferewith performance at work and with the ability to relax or sleep. Also it may impairhearing and it can evoke other physiological and pathological symptoms to thedetriment of health. The sources of noise may be local or general. Industrialprocesses are an important source of indoor or localised noise. Persons exposed tonoise as a consequence of their employment are legally protected to some extent byEuropean Directives and National Regulations which limit the maximum permissiblenoise levels to 85-90dB. A research project was launched with the full co-operationof the Don and Low Group of Companies, Forfar and Perth, Scotland.Study indicates that the proportion of employees who have noise-induced hearingloss is higher amongst those who work in higher than 85dB, (e.g. Group 1 <85dB-11%;Group 2 85<90dB-44%; Group 3 90<95dB-44%; Group 4≥95dB-39% = 138% in total). In all groups social and economic status, sex, age and average number of years' service are almost identical.In general, the study indicates a higher number of employees suffered from earproblems between groups exposed to 85dB and more, (e.g. perforated eardrum, noisetinnitus, vertigo, wax in ears).The danger of noise has been studied in detail regarding the general health ofemployees as follows:1. Sleep disturbanceIt appeared that most of the cases who suffered from sleep disturbance werefound amongst employees exposed to greater than 85dB, averaging about 33%.On the other hand, only 8% of the employees in category <85dB complainedof sleep disturbance.2. Blood PressureAccording to job categories 10% of employees had heart problems in jobcategory higher than 85dB, but only one case reported heart problems in jobcategories less than 85dB.3. StressSmoking was one of the subjects studied in detail in this project and the resultswere significant. An average of 40% of employees were smokers among groupsexposed to higher than 85dB compared to 10% of smokers among employeesexposed to less than 85dB.Industrial accidents occur at a higher rate among employees who worked in noisyenvironments (~85dB) with regard to reported or unreported accidents.From the result of the research, industrial noise should be studied in a morecomprehensive way to measure all effects of noise regarding employees health by using the statistical data and always noise should be controlled at source.Industrial noise is still a major danger to employees. From the results in this study itappears there is a need for more co-operation between employer and employee andnot just depend on the health and safety regulations and try to solve the problem.