Journal of Ergonomics
Open Access

Noise Exposure in the Ergonomic Environment

Alemu Degwale*^{* *}Correspondence: Alemu Degwale*, Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia, Email:

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Description

Although noise may not appear to be a significant concern in ergonomics, it has a significant impact on both the environment and health in many sectors. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Labor Organization (ILO) are collaborating to establish joint estimates of the occupational illness and injury burden (WHO/ILO Joint Estimates), including input from a large number of individual specialists. Mechanistic research shows that workplace noise exposure may induce cardiovascular disease (CVD). A meta-analysis of parameters for determining the number of deaths and disability-adjusted life years caused by occupational noise exposure for the WHO/ILO Joint Estimates.

Noise studies show that noise interruption is caused by a variety of sources, both industrial and non-industrial. Noise is a study within the discipline of ergonomics, thus development is required to play a key role in understanding the management and preventing future health issues. Noise is defined as any unwanted noise or sound which may interfere with health, comfort, or cause deafness, as measured in decibels. Noise is also defined as "sound that appears at the wrong place and wrong time," as well as being a potential health hazard that damages human hearing. Sustained and continuous loud exposure might result in permanent ear loss or injury to the worker. The Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) specify a permissible noise level for employees to be exposed to at any particular moment. A sound wave is formed by the vibrating of air molecules. Waves in low frequency sounds are widely apart, but waves in high frequency sounds are close together. Sound waves go from the outside to the eardrum, when they vibrate this same eardrum. The vibration is picked up by the three small bones on the opposite side of the eardrum and sent to the inner ear.

The vibration is detected in the middle ear by the cochlea, a tiny, spiral-shaped organ. The vibration is detected by cochlear hairs, which transmit the message to ear brain through the cochlear nerve. Excessive noise bends, damages, and breaks these sensitive hairs. The scar tissue that forms as a result cannot conduct sound. The regions of the ear that handle higher frequency sounds are frequently the first to be impacted.

Noise is a component of air pollution that comes from two sources: the industrial and non-industrial sectors. Noise from the non-industrial sector was shown to be quite broad, ranging from building in residential areas creating unpleasant noises, busy traffic on the roadway, planes taking off and landing at the airport, to the issue of trains operating near to residential areas. Globalization of socioeconomic processes and urbanization promote people mobility, which is aided by the increasing use of transportation.

As a result of the operation, building, or extension of these transportation facilities, disruptions to the environment emerge, such as non-fulfilment of environmental regulations linked to noise and environmental damage which would impact health and welfare. Noise disturbance had an impact on self-rated health. Contrary to common belief, there was no substantial association between noise disruption and work happiness. Rather, work happiness and environmental contentment were inversely associated with a lack of speech privacy. Noise sensitivity was found to damage speech privacy, and prolonged noise exposure resulted in worse work satisfaction. There was additional evidence that for individuals with high noise sensitivity, voice privacy was a better predictor of pleasure with the surroundings and work satisfaction.