Abstract
Noise pollution is one of the common physical harmful factors in many work environments. The current study aimed to assess personal and environmental sound pressure level and project the sound-Isosonic map in one of the Razavi Khorasan Paste manufacture using Surfer V.14 and Noise at work V.5.0. This cross-sectional, descriptive study is analytical that was conducted in 2018 in the Paste factory that contains Canister, production and Brewing unit. Following ISO 9612:2009, Casella Cel-320 was used to measure personal sound pressure level, while CEL-450 sound level meter (manufactured by Casella-Cel, the UK) was employed to assess environmental sound pressure level. Statistical analyzes was done using SPSS V.18 and Linear Regression test. The sound-isosonic maps were projected using Surfer V. 14 and Noise at work V.5.0. The results of assessing personal sound pressure level indicated that the highest received dose (172.21%) and personal equivalent sound level (87.36 dBA) were recorded for workers in the Canister unit. According to results of measuring of the environmental sound pressure level, out of 16 measurement stations in this unit, overall 87.5% were regarded as danger and caution areas. The lowest and highest sound pressure levels in this units were 61 dBA and 92 dBA that belong to Brewing and Canister units respectively. Results indicate Over 75% of the Canister and production units had a sound pressure level greater than 85 dBA and these two units were regarded as the most dangerous area in terms of noise pollution. It is therefore necessary to implement noise control measures, apply hearing protection program and auditory tests among workers in these units.
Highlights
Noise is the most common and physically damaging factor worldwide
Since there is no study on the assessment of individual and environmental sound pressure level and drawing isosonic maps in this plant, and due to the increasing progress of industry and industrial technology, it is necessary to investigate risk factors of work environment, including physical hazardous agents and harmful noise in the plant; the present study was designed with the following objectives: 1. Assessment of individual workers’ sound pressure levels
Minimum sound pressure level of 61 dBA belonged to the shearing unit; and the maximum sound pressure level of 92 dBA belonged to the canning unit
Summary
The workplace noise is generally unpleasant, unwanted and unavoidable, and there is no significant relationship between its pressure amplitudes, frequency and wavelengths. In the United States, more than 30 million workers are exposed to hazardous noise and 7.4–10.2 million industrial workers are at risk of noise induced hearing loss [3,4]. Despite the fact that it is 100% preventable, hearing loss is a most common occupational disease in the United States [5], so that, $200 million in damages were paid in 1990 for noise induced hearing loss [6]. The ratio of the population exposed to environmental noise of over 65 dB has increased from 15% to 26% in Europe over the past 10 years [7]
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