Analysis of noise levels in industries in Kenya

Abstract

Noise pressure level measurements and noise frequency analyses have been done in various departments of different factories with a view to establishing the nature of the noise problem in Kenya Industries. The measurement results as presented in Chapter 4 and data sheets appendices A and B have achieved this purpose. Very high noise levels, some of which are concentrated in narrow frequency bands in the range 1000 Hz to 5000 Hz have been detected in many factories. A combination of these high noise levels with the number of people affected together with the working durations of exposure has been found to be serious in textile industry, Fasteners manufacturing industries, the informal sector of Jua Kali artisans and mainly metal fabrication industries. In these areas workers are daily overdosed with noise and there is urgent need to find a solution to the increasing noise problem in the Kenya industries. It has also been established that shoe industry, rubber industry, cement industry and other general process industries do not have noise as an occupational hazard. , The raw material handled in these industries absorb sound rather than generate it as it is in the case of metallic materials