PERTANIKA JOURNAL OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

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Home / Regular Issue / JST Vol. 31 (2) Mar. 2023 / JST-3552-2022

 

Heat Stress and Noise Exposure Levels in a Manufacturing Plant

Qi Jie Kwong, Nursyifaasahirah Terbizi, Normaisarah Nordin, Emma Marinie Ahmad Zawawi, Azli Abd Razak and Jamalunlaili Abdullah

Pertanika Journal of Science & Technology, Volume 31, Issue 2, March 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.47836/pjst.31.2.16

Keywords: Heat stress, manufacturing plant, noise exposure, Wet-bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT), workplace

Published on: 20 March 2023

This paper analyses skilled workers' heat stress and noise exposure levels at a pressure vessel manufacturing plant. Measurements were conducted at three partially enclosed workspaces of the plant where hot work and metal fabrications were conducted using a multi-function thermal environment data logger and a sound level recorder. A survey was developed to obtain the field workers’ perceptions of their immediate heat and noise environments. The findings suggested that the heat and noise conditions were generally acceptable. The calculated mean Wet-bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) indicated that there was only minimal risk of heat stress for the workers. It was also identified that the noise intensities in the sections studied were within the permissible exposure limit for an 8-hour duration specified in the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) guideline. Besides, questionnaire survey results showed that the thermal and noise conditions at the workplace were acceptable. The workers perceived their work environment as warm with sensible air movement, moderately humid, free from heat and noise-related injuries, and able to have clear conversations with their co-workers while working.

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ISSN 0128-7680

e-ISSN 2231-8526

Article ID

JST-3552-2022

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