NOISE EMISSIONS AND ASSOCIATED ACOUSTIC EFFECTS ON WORKERS FROM SELECTED VIBRATING BLOCK INDUSTRIES IN BENIN CITY, NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

This study assessed the level of noise emission exposure and the associated risk factors and health effects among workers in selected vibrating block industries in Benin City, Nigeria. The level of noise emission in the six randomly selected Vibrating block industries was measured using a calibrated Noise level meter. A well-structured questionnaire was also administered to sixty (60) respondents in the study area. The result revealed a noise level that ranged from 99.5- 104.9 dB in the mornings and 96.3-110.4dB during the afternoon period. The noise level varied across the sampling locations during the morning and afternoon sampling period, but the differences across the sampling locations in the morning were not statistically significant (F=0.603, p=0.698). Contrarily, the afternoon readings significantly varied (F=4.077, p = 0.003), from one sampling site to another. The noise effects reported were hearing difficulties (50.8%), High blood pressure (62.3%), tinnitus (55.7%),  annoyance (59.0%), stress (49.2%), sleeplessness (44.0%)  and irritation (47.5%) respectively. There was a significant association between increased heart rate and work experience was significant (c² = 6.543, p= 0.038), and the number of years spent on the job and annoyance (c² = 6.629, p= 0.042). The duration of noise exposure was also associated significantly with stress (c²= 6.652,p=0.036) and work experience (c² = 8.381, p= 0.015).