SOUND EFFECTS OF OCCUPATIONAL NOISE EXPOSURE ON PERSONNEL IN BURR MILL PROCESSING CENTRES

Abstract

Noise pollution is almost everywhere in human day to day living; occupational noise exposure is a rampant problem facing different occupation with many not knowing the extent of damage that is been done to personnel working in a noisy environment. In Nigeria little is the research that has been carried out in area of noise pollution, recognizing this; this project was aimed at assessing and comparing the level of noise generated and its exposure effect on the personnel working in agro-processing center with emphasis on a burr mill processing center. Noise generated in the milling centers were read at different spatial location within Bodija Market that makes use of burr milling machine for particle size reduction of agro-based produce with Testo 815 sound level meter. The sound level read was compared to that specified by United State Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), these standards were used because it has been adopted by Nigeria’s National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA). Result shows that noise generated from dry milling operation varies from 89.9dBA-99.3dBA; on the average these levels exceeded the standards specified by the various regulating authorities. Burr mill operators are exposed to excessive occupational noise as showed by the sound level readings, which results into noise induced hearing loss NIHL as corroborated by the response of 26% of the respondents that reported high severity in loss of hearing and other non-auditory health implication which affects them.