A survey on the cognisance of risks and mitigation measures from occupational noise in the construction and building industry

Abstract

Exposure to excessive noise among workers in the construction industry is linked to a diverse range of health problems, including noise-induced hearing loss. Several legislative measures in Malta and the EU, such as Directive 2002/49/EC and Directive 2003/10/EC together with Local Legislation Legal Notice 158 of 2006, have been enacted to help mitigate the adverse effects of excessive noise exposures. Although the negative effects of excessive noise exposure are well documented, there are poor levels of knowledge and understanding about the effects among construction workers. In view of this, this study aimed to investigate the levels of knowledge and understanding of workers in the construction industry in Malta on the risks and the mitigation measures that can be implemented. Exploratory quantitative research, involving a survey was conducted to achieve the objectives of the study. Stratified sampling was applied to identify a range of construction companies in Malta, with a total of 120 workers being selected to take part in the study. The two CEM DT-8852 tools were used to measure the level of noise in eight sites, while questionnaires were administered to collect data from the workers. Data analysis majorly relied on frequency analysis, cross-tabulations, and Chi-Square tests. Key findings of the study revealed that workers in the construction industry demonstrate a good level of knowledge about the association between excessive noise exposure and hearing problems. However, there were poor levels of knowledge among workers about the impact of excessive noise exposure and other health risks, as well as on policies and legislation about occupational health and safety. Consequently, the implementation of education and awareness creation programmes is recommended to enhance their knowledge about the adverse effects of excessive noise exposure and the strategies they can implement to mitigate the risks.