IMPACT OF EXCESSIVE SOUND ON AUDITORY, SENSORY, HEALTH AND JOB PERFORMANCE OF ELECTRICAL FACTORY WORKERS

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IMPACT OF EXCESSIVE SOUND ON AUDITORY, SENSORY, HEALTH AND JOB PERFORMANCE OF ELECTRICAL FACTORY WORKERS

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Noise is a common phenomenon in the modern society and a deleterious element present in every human activity; and when assessing its impact on human well-being, it is usually classified either as occupational noise (that is, noise in the workplace), or as environmental noise and this includes noise in all other settings, whether at the community, residential or domestic places.

According to OSHA 3074 (2002), noise, or unwanted sound is one of the most pervasive occupational health problems. It is a by-product of many industrial processes. Exposure to high levels of noise leads to hearing loss and may further cause other harmful health effects as well.

Academia Journal of Educational Research; Oyeme and Ayo. 093

The extent of damage depends primarily on the intensity of the noise and the duration of the exposure. Noiseinduced hearing loss can be temporary or permanent. Temporary hearing loss results from short-term exposures to noise with normal hearing returning after a period of rest. Generally, prolonged exposure to high noise levels over a period of time gradually causes permanent damage.

Noise is capable of causing a general rise in blood pressure, increase in the pressure inside the head, increase in perspiration and heartbeat, changes in breathing patterns and general muscular contradictions (Tafalla and Evans, 1997). Similarly, Regecova and Kellerova (1995) reported that noise exposure causes some vascular problems such as increase in blood pressure and heartbeat – hypertension, metabolic and biochemical disorders.

Noise-induced cardiovascular effects have been extensively studied in occupational settings. The Health Council of the Netherlands (1996) concluded that prolonged exposure to occupational noise may contribute to increased blood pressure and hypertension. These effects were shown to occur at sound levels of 85 dB(A). Other noise-induced cardiovascular effects include: abnormalities in the electrocardiogram, more heart beat irregularities, faster pulse rate and slower recovery of vascular constriction. There have serious difficulty in determining the effects of noise in the urban environment.

Most studies focused on the effects of air and road traffic noise on people in their own homes. A complicating factor was made to distinguish exposure to traffic noise versus other often louder noises from other sources. Housing features, as well as, personal habits and proximity of sleep areas to the noise source (for example, road) affect the actual noise exposure. There is some evidence that suggests an increased risk of hypertension and ischemic heart disease for people living in road areas or air traffic noise at outdoor equivalent sound levels above 70 dB(A) based on exposure between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. The study of Thompson (1996) revealed that kindergarten children had significantly higher systolic and diastolic blood pressures when exposed to noisy or very noisy environments (kindergarten and home) as compared to quiet environments. However, these effects appear to be of temporary nature (Health Council of the Netherlands, 1996; Thompson, 1996).

Blood pressure in humans is subject to movement variation. Also, it is generally agreed that for hypertension in the young adult and early middle age, the systolic pressure must be consistently above 140 mmHg and the diastolic pressure consistently above 90 mmHg (Wilson et al., 1991). It was observed that the mean BP of urban subjects is generally higher than that of their rural counterparts and that in the rural labourers (individuals engaged in vigorous physical activities) BP is lower than that of rural clerks (individuals engaged in vigorous physical activities).

A recent meta-analysis reviewed the effects of occupational and environmental noise on a variety of cardiovascular risks, including hypertension, use of antihypertension drugs, consultation with a general practitioner or specialist, use of cardiovascular medicines, angina pectoris, myocardial infarction and prevalence of ischemic heart disease (van Kempen et al., 2002). The analysis showed an association with hypertension, but only limited evidence for an association with the other health outcomes.

Epidemiological and laboratory studies involving workers exposed to occupational noise and general populations (including children) living in noisy areas around airports, industries and noisy streets indicated that noise may have both temporary and permanent impacts on physiological functions in humans (Passchier-Vermeer, 1993; Berglund and Lindvall, 1995). It was postulated that noise acts as an environmental stressor (PasschierVermeer, 1993; Berglund and Lindvall, 1995).

Acute noise exposures activate the autonomic and hormonal systems, thereby leading to temporary changes such as increased blood pressure and heart rate and vasoconstriction. After prolonged exposure, susceptible individuals in the general population may develop permanent effects such as hypertension and ischemic heart disease associated with exposures to high sound pressure levels (Passchier-Vermeer, 1993; Berglund and Lindvall, 1995). The magnitude and duration of the effects are determined in part by individual characteristics, lifestyle behaviours and environmental conditions. Sounds also evoke reflex responses, particularly when they are unfamiliar and have a sudden onset.

Exposure to excessive noise is the major avoidable cause of permanent hearing impairment worldwide (Smith, 1998). However, the situation is improving in developed countries as more widespread appreciation of the hazard led to the introduction of protective measures (ConchaBarrientos, 2004). The average noise levels in developing countries may be increasing because industrialization is not always accompanied by total adherence to safety hearing conservation regulations. Effective legislation against noise and NIHL preventive programmes lack well established structures in Nigeria and many other developing countries (Akande and Ologe, 2003).

Although, several initiatives were taken by various countries to reduce noise-pollution, for example, the United States of America took the initiative to create sites where human-caused noise pollution will not be tolerated (Geary, 1996). Laws in the Netherlands do not permit the building of houses in areas where 24 h average noise levels exceed 50dB. In Great Britain, the noise Act empowers the local authorities to confiscate noisy equipment and punish people who create excess noise at night, whereas, the absence of the effective legislation and safety practices expose Nigerian societies to the penetration of this assiduous noise influence.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Therefore, the rate of noise in the society is getting alarming especially in industrial areas. Heavy machines are used in such industries and yet precautions to prevent hazards caused by the noise emitted by these machines are not taken into consideration, thereby, putting the auditory performance and health of workers exposed to noise pollution at risk. It is evident that workers who are exposed to industrial noise at their places of work over time do experience some health problems. The hazardous effects of industrial noise pollution on workers make these workers vulnerable and susceptible to auditory disorders, fatigue, annoyance, cardiovascular disorders, sleep disorder, performance effect, immune effect and biochemical effects. Therefore, a study to determine the effects of excessive noise exposure on the auditory and health status of workers as well as, creating awareness on ways of educating industrial workers on the health and auditory risk when exposed to excessive noise from their workplace is necessary.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The major essence of this study was to examine the effects of industrial noise pollution on auditory performances and health status of workers in Ibadan. The study also purposed to determine the sound level in which the workers are exposed to at their place of work, determine if excessive exposure to noise contributes to cardiovascular diseases and health, affects the work performance of the industrial workers and if industrial workers are aware of the dangerous effects noise has on them and also to suggest ways of educating industrial workers on the potential health risks and auditory performance on exposure to noise at their workplace.

In order to achieve these aims, we sought to know the sound level of noise the participants are exposed to at their place of work and if excessive noise exposures affects their work performance, what the effects of excessive noise pollution on the auditory performances are, if industrial workers experience high blood pressure and headache as a result of excessive noise exposure, as well as, the awareness of the workers on the effect of industrial noise pollution on their auditory performance and health status.

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

To understand the impact of excessive sound on auditory, sensory, health and job performance of electrical factory workers
To understand the relationship between excessive sound on auditory, sensory, health and job performance of electrical factory workers

RESEARCH QUESTIONS

What is the impact of excessive sound on auditory, sensory, health and job performance of electrical factory workers
What is the relationship between excessive sound on auditory, sensory, health and job performance of electrical factory workers

RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS

H0: There is no relationship between excessive sound on auditory, sensory, health and job performance of electrical factory workers

H1: There is a relationship between excessive sound on auditory, sensory, health and job performance of electrical factory workers

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