Occupational noise exposure and hearing loss symptoms among construction workers / Muhammad Rafik

Forty four noise exposure samples were collected at low-cost apartment building construction from two different construction trades: ironworkers and bricklayers. The noise exposure level was measured using personal noise dosimeter, whereas hearing loss with other health effect was measured via questionnaire completed by workers. T-test conducted for to compare noise exposure level between two different trades. The mean average noise exposure (L Aeq) of ironworker was 104.73±2.96 dBA and bricklayer was 90.83±4.22 dBA respectively, and the different of noise exposure between trades is statistically significant. The relationship of working period and annoyance from noise evaluated where range from 16 to 20 of working years; the longest period of working group was 85.7%, which was the highest among range of working period. The hearing complaints shows that highest hearing problem come from bricklayer trade (75.0%). The noise exposure was being compared to the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) as stated in First Schedule of Factory and Machinery (Noise Exposure) Regulations 1989. The exposure of noise supersede the PEL as 68.2% of the workers suffering from hearing adverse effect and complaints about their hearing loss symptoms, although they had not had any periodical hearing test and they are not using ear protection equipment.