A study of the noise hazard in selected industries in the Philippines

A study was made to evaluate the noise hazard in certain industries of the country. Evaluation was made by measuring the noise levels at the work sites of different establishments and the hearing acuity of workers in the textile mill and the steel plant. It was found that noise levels were quite high varying from 86 to 119 decibels. Most of the energies of noise were centered in the middle and high frequencies denoting potential danger to the hearing apparatus. Audiometric results revealed hearing losses for workers exposed to excessive noise even when corrected for age. This suggests that the hearing defects were noise-induced. As a consequence of the results it is necessary for the industries surveyed to institute hearing conservation programs to protect the health and welfare of the workers.