Evaluation of noise risk level and its consequences on technical operators of tobacco processing equipment in a cigarette producing company in Nigeria

Abstract

This paper evaluates the noise risk level and its consequences on technical operators of tobacco processing equipment in Nigerian cigarette industries. The noise generated by different equipment used in primary, secondary and utility production departments in three different tobacco companies in Nigeria were evaluated and analysed. It is discovered that the highest noise mean of about 106.02 dB is generated from the utility departments due to non-stop usage of 3.2 Kilowatts (kVA) generators as the company depends on electrical generator for the machines operation. The overall mean of noise measured from the three companies (101.89 dB, 98.63 dB, and 96.15 dB) showed that all technical operators were subjected to intense noise which is well above the standard of National and International limit of 85 dB. This research proved that high decibel of noise has severe impact on health and performance of the technical operators who spend an average of 12 h daily on the production floor. In addition, the noise effects negative effects on the overall production efficiencies of all the companies were evaluated. Analysis of the result outcome showed that all the companies were operating at efficiencies of less than 55%. In a quest to implement standard control measures to minimize the effect of noise to a limit set by Occupational Safety and Health Administration. It is therefore recommended that engineering controls in areas of equipment aging inspection, routine maintenance, proper implementation of administrative measures and workplace etiquette to serve as the everlasting solution to the noise problem bedeviling operators in tobacco producing companies.