Bachelor in Occupational Health and Safety
1. Title
A survey on the cognisance of risks and mitigation measures from occupational noise in the construction and building industry.
2. Main Objective/s
The main objective is to identify, verify and survey the sources of noise in the construction and building industry and to assess the risks to which the working population in this sector is exposed.
3. Hypothesis/es or Research Question/s
a. What proportion of workers in the construction and building industry are aware of the adverse effects and risks resulting from exposure to occupational noise?
b. What type of PPE is in use?
c. What type of national biomonitoring programs are in place in this regard?
d. What are the major local sources of noise prevailing in the building and construction industry?
e. What engineering controls and maintenance measures are being employed to ensure workers’ protection?
4. Brief Literature Review
Research on the subject matter is not profuse. Noise is one of the most important occupational factors, which undoubtedly affects the workers’ health both in the short and long term. Noise can increase the overall stress of operators during a specific task and can affect the communicative performance (WHO, 2013). As a result, noise affects workers’ health directly and indirectly. Exposure to intense noise has been shown to damage the human hearing process and noise has been labelled as the most pervasive hazardous agent in the workplace (CDC, 2018).
The World Health Organization (WHO) has documented several categories of adverse health effects of noise pollution on humans in their publications of environmental health criteria. Many of which include hearing loss, interference with spoken communication leading to irritation and stress, sleep disturbances and headaches (WHO, 2013).
Studies and articles have shown that exposure to high noise levels acts as a stressor, which over a long period may result in pathological side-effects. Other studies indicate that the exposure of construction site workers to noise pollution is significantly greater than that of the public at large due to proximity to sources (NCBI, 2018). Despite the enormous past-invasion growth in the construction of residential projects, large construction yards/plants in Malta, no study or surveys of construction pollution and workers’ cognisance has been performed. Throughout this study intends to identify and at the same time disseminate awareness and to propose mitigation measures that should be in place.
5. Methodology
a. Research Design
Quantitative data will be compiled since an analysis will be carried out on the information gathered from the ad hoc designed questionnaires. This will help assess the level of awareness and education of employees both individually and collectively. If possible data will also be captured on the additional risk or injuries caused not directly from noise but as a result of hindrances or indirect effects (e.g. warning signage etc.).
b. Participants
A stratified sampling approach will be afforded comprising pools ranging from well established companies to small and medium-sized or individually owned enterprises. Participants will be chosen at random.
c. Instrumentation
Questionnaires will be carried out with individuals who will be chosen at random from well established companies and small and medium-sized enterprises. Data from the questionnaires will be validated and then inputted into a coded database and analysed. Noise level measurements will be collected through an ambient sound level meter. Data will be downloaded from the logger into a data base, validated and encrypted so that source can never be revealed e.g.: code number 00125. Noise level data will be collected over an 8 hours average at chosen locations.
d. Data collection
Questionnaires will be carried out with individuals who will be chosen at random from well established companies and small and medium-sized enterprises. Data from the questionnaires will be validated and then inputted into a coded database and analysed. Noise level measurements will be collected through an ambient sound level meter. Data will be downloaded from the logger into a data base, validated and encrypted so that source can never be revealed e.g.: code number 00125. Noise level data will be collected over an 8 hours average at chosen locations.
6. Foreseeable Ethical Issues
An approval from the board of ethics will be requested in order to be able to perform this survey through a questionnaire a permission from the board of ethics will be required. A consent form will be filled by every participant for every questionnaire distributed. All questionnaires employed will be kept anonymous and encrypted so as to protect the participants from any retribution from their employers or otherwise.
