Survey of the Effects of Operational Noise on Quarry Workers in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State

Authors

  • D. J. Afu Department of Mining Engineering, Federal University of Technology Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria.
  • E. O. Ifelola Department of Mining Engineering, Federal University of Technology Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria
  • S. G. Ayodele Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources Engineering, Federal Polytechnic Auchi, Edo State, Nigeria
  • A. Ekun Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources Engineering, Federal Polytechnic Auchi, Edo State, Nigeria
  • A. Itunu Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources Engineering, Federal Polytechnic Auchi, Edo State, Nigeria

Keywords:

Noise, Quarry, effects, workers

Abstract

This study employed subjective well structure questionnaires for data collection at three different quarries, namely; The Freedom Group of company, Somak Industry Nigeria Limited and Beez in Akoko Edo Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. 50 questionnaires were distributed to quarry workers for their subjective assessment of the effects of noise on workers without any restrictions. Works at the quarry face and mill processing plants responded quite well. Based on the results obtained from questionnaires analysis using SPSS (Frequency distribution and bar charts), 20% of the workers admitted to a change or deterioration in their hearing ability over time, 48% affirmed that they observe continuous ringing in the ear after work hours, headache after the day's work was a common experience for about 74% of the workers and 24% complained of sleep disorder. In light of these, this study suggested that the effects of noise on the workers would be minimal if the quarry can employ some hearing conservation programs and measures be put in place.

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Published

2019-05-05