Noise Exposure Levels in Black Tea Processing Factories and Its Effects on Employees

Year 2021, Volume: 18 Issue: 2, 282 - 291, 01.05.2021

Gıyasettin Çiçek Sarp Korkut Sümer

https://doi.org/10.33462/jotaf.784585

Cited By: 2

Abstract

Bu çalışmanın amacı, siyah çay fabrikalarındaki günlük gürültü maruziyet düzeylerini belirlemek ve çalışanların iş sağlığı ve güvenliği üzerindeki etkilerini değerlendirmektir. Çalışmada Artvin ilinde faaliyet gösteren üç çay fabrikasının her bir üretim biriminde çalışanların kulak seviyelerinde ses basınç düzeyi dBA değerleri ölçülmüştür. Ölçümlerin yapıldığı bu fabrikalar soldurma, kıvırma, oksidasyon, kurutma (kazan ve soba) ve sınıflandırma birimlerinden oluşmaktadır. Bu üniteler; konveyörler, fanlar, buharlı ısıtıcılar, kazanlar, redüktörler, paletler, davlumbazlar, elekler, dişliler ve tamburlardan oluşan çeşitli sistem ve mekanizmaları içermektedir. ISO 9612: 2009 (Mesleki Gürültü Maruziyet Mühendisliği Yöntemi) standardı dikkate alınarak yapılan ölçümlerde IEC 61672-1: 2002 şartlarına uygun Tip-2 sınıfında bir ses basınç düzeyi ölçer kullanılmıştır. Ölçülen değerler kullanılarak A ağırlıklı eşdeğer ses basıncı seviyeleri belirlenmiştir. Bu değerler ve çalışma süreleri dikkate alınarak kişisel günlük gürültü maruziyet seviyeleri hesaplanmıştır. Çalışanların kulak seviyesindeki eşdeğer ses basınç seviyeleri ve günlük kişisel gürültü maruziyet seviyelerinin sırasıyla 77-87 dBA ve 74-83 dBA aralığında olduğu belirlenmiştir. Ölçüm yapılan tüm üniteler içerisinde, kıvırma ünitelerinin diğer ünitelere kıyasla en yüksek eşdeğer ses basınç seviyesine (86.81 dBA) ve günlük kişisel gürültü maruziyet seviyesine (83.10 dBA) sahipken, kazanların en düşük eşdeğer ses basınç seviyesine (76.75 dBA) ve günlük kişisel gürültü maruziyet seviyesi değerine (73.55 dBA) sahip olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Çalışanların gürültüye bağlı risklerden korunmasına ilişkin yönetmelik dikkate alındığında, bu fabrikalarda günlük gürültü maruziyet seviyesinin en düşük günlük kişisel gürültü maruziyet eylem değerine (80 dBA) ulaştığı sonucuna varılmıştır. Çalışmada elde edilen veriler, çeşitli araştırma sonuçları ve gürültü yönetmeliği dikkate alındığında, çalışanların iş sağlığı ve güvenliğinin yanı sıra iş verimliliğinin çay fabrikalarındaki gürültüden olumsuz etkilenebileceğini göstermiştir.

Keywords

çay üretimi, gürültü ölçümü, ses basınç düzeyi, iş sağlığı, ergonomi

Supporting Institution

Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart Üniversitesi Bilimsel Araştırma Projeleri Koordinasyon Birimi

Project Number

FBA-2019-2897

Thanks

Bu çalışma Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart Üniversitesi Bilimsel Araştırma Projeleri Koordinasyon Birimince Desteklenmiştir. Proje Numarası: FHD-2019-2897

Noise Exposure Levels in Black Tea Processing Factories and Its Effects on Employees

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the daily noise exposure levels in black tea processing factories and to evaluate its effects on employees' occupational health and safety. In the study, the sound pressure level dBA values were measured at the ear levels of the employees in each production unit in three tea factories operating in Artvin Province. These factories where the measurements were made consist of withering, curling, oxidation, drying (boiler and stove) and classification units. These units include various systems and mechanisms formed by conveyors, fans, steam heaters, boilers, reducers, pallets, hoods, screens, gears, and drums. In the measurements performed considering the ISO 9612:2009 (Acoustics Determination of Occupational Noise Exposure Engineering Method) standard, a sound pressure level meter in Type-2 class complying with the requirements of the IEC 61672-1: 2002 was used. A weighted equivalent sound pressure levels were determined using the measured values. Considering these values and working times, personal daily noise exposure levels were calculated. It was determined that the equivalent sound pressure levels and daily personal noise exposure levels at the employee ear level were in the range of 77-87 dBA and 74-83 dBA, respectively. Curling units have the highest equivalent sound pressure level (86.81 dBA) and daily personal noise exposure level value (83.10 dBA) compared to other units, while boilers have the lowest equivalent sound pressure level (76.75 dBA) and daily personal noise exposure level value (73.55 dBA). Considering the regulation on protection of employees from noise related risks, it was concluded that the daily noise exposure level reached the lower exposure action value (80 dBA) in these factories. The study showed that the health and work efficiency of the employees could be adversely affected by noise in tea factories, considering various research results and Regulations on noise. 

Keywords

tea manufacturing, noise measurement, sound pressure level, occupational health, ergonomics

Project Number

FBA-2019-2897

References

• Andren, L., Hansson, L., Björkman, M. and Jonsson, A. (1980). Noise as a contributing factor in the development of elevated arterial pressure. Acta Medico Scandinavica, 207, 493-498.
• Ateş, E. and Alagöz, M., (2018). Noise Analysis at a Company manufacturing agricultural machinery (in Turkish). Karaelmas Journal of Occupational Health and Safety. 2(1), 13‐22.
• Basner, M., Babisch, W., Davis, A., Brink, M. and Clark, C., (2014). Auditory and non-auditory effects of noise on health. Lancet, p.1325–1332.
• Corlett, E.N. and Clark, T.S., (2009). The ergonomics of workspaces and machines, A design manual Second Edition, Taylor & Francis e-Library, ISBN 0-203-48261-1 (e-book), pp:163.
• Crocker, M.J., (2007). General introduction to Noise and Vibration Effects on People and Hearing Conservation in Handbook of Noise and Vibration Control, pp.303-307, Eds Crocker, M.J., John Wiley & Sons, NewYork.
• Directive 2003/10/EC of the European parliament and of the council of 6 February 2003 on the minimum health and safety requirements regarding the exposure of workers to the risks arising from physical agents (noise). https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/en/ALL/?uri=CELEX%3A32003L0010 accessed 15.03.2020.
• Ege, F., Sümer S.K. and Sabancı, A., (2003). Noise level in textile plant and its effects (in Turkish). Turkish Medical Association Occupational Health and Safety Journal. 30-39.
• FAO, (2016). Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations. http://www.fao.org/faostat/
• Gönüllü, M.T., Avşar, Y., Arslankaya, E. and Tosun, I., (2002). Investigation of noise occurring in different industrial units and evaluation of hearing health (in Turkish), IV.GAP Engineering Congress Proceedings, Şanlıurfa, 1390-1395.
• Grandjean, E., (1988). Fitting the Task to the Man A Textbook of occupational ergonomics. Taylor & Francis Ltd, London.
• Harris, D., (1991). Noise control manual guidelines for problem-solving in the industrial/commercial acoustical environment. the Noise Control Association (NCA), Springer Science+Business Media New York, ISBN 978-1-4757-6009-5 (e-Book)
• Konuklar, B., (2016). Noise exposures of employees in weaving plants (in Turkish). Occupational Health and Safety Specialization Thesis, Ministry of Labor and Social Security, General Directorate of Occupational Health and Safety, Ankara, pp: 98.
• Kroemer, K.H.E., (2017). Fitting the human introduction to ergonomics-human factors engineering. Seventh edition. CRC Press Taylor & Francis Group. Book Number-13: 978-1-498 -4689-2 (Hardback).
• Leather, P., Beale, D. and Sullivan, L., (2003). Noise, psychosocial stress and their interaction in the workplace. J. Environ. Psychol., 23(2), 213–222.
• Melamed, S., Froom, P., Kristal-Boneh, E., Gofer, D. and Ribak, J., (1997). Industrial noise exposure, noise annoyance, and serum lipid levels in blue-collar workers. Arch. Environ. Health, 52(4), 292–298.
• OSHA, (2020). Occupational safety and health administration. Regulations (Standards–29 CFR) Occupational noise exposure. – 1910.95, 1998.
• Özgüven, M., (2012). Investigation of noise maps for some post-harvest agricultural machinery used ındoor spaces (in Turkish). J. Tekirdag Agri. Faculty. 9 (3), 45-53.
• Sabancı, A. and Sümer, S.K., (2015). Ergonomics (in Turkish). Nobel Academic Publishing, Ankara. ISBN:978-605-5426-79-8. Second edition. pp:472.
• Sabancı, A. and Sümer, S.K., Say, S.M., (2012). Industrial ergonomics (in Turkish). Nobel Academic Publishing, Ankara ISBN: 978-605-133-329-8. pp:261.
• Sakarya E. (2016). Working life and the effects of noise noise analysis study of a construction site in (in Turkish). University of Üsküdar. MSc. Thesis.
• Saptashish D. and Jolvis Pou K.E. (2016). A Review of Withering in the Processing of Black Tea. J. of Biosystems Eng. 41(4):365-372. https://doi.org/10.5307/JBE.2016.41.4.365.
• Sümer, S.K., Say, S.M., Ege, F. and Sabancı, A., (2006). Noise exposed of the operators of combine harvesters with and without a cab. J. Appl. Ergon. (37), 749-756.
• Thatcher, A. and Yeow, P.H.P., (2018). Ergonomics and human factors for a sustainable future, current research and future possibilities. Part of Springer Nature. ISBN 978-981-10-8071-5 ISBN 978-981-10-8072-2
• Toprak, R. and Aktürk, N., (2004). The negative effects of noise on human health. The Turkish Bulletin of Hygiene and Experimental Biology, 61(1), 49-58.
• TS EN ISO 9612:2009. Türk Standardı, Akustik-Çalışma Ortamında Maruz Kalınan Gürültünün Belirlenmesi-Mühendislik Yöntemi.
• Von Grandjean, E., (1959). The effects of noise on vegetative and endocrine functions (in German). Journal of Preventive Medicine, (4), 3-40.
• WHO, (1991). Report of the informal working group on prevention of deafness and hearing impairment programme planning, Geneva, 18-21 June 1991. Retrieved March 16, 2020.
• Wilkinson, R., (2002). Avoiding hearing losses on the farm. Michigan State University Extension, National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health https://nasdonline.org/220/d000019/avoiding-hearing-losses-on-the-farm.html accessed 17.02.2020.
• Yağmur, R., (2016). Evaluation of occupational noise and vibration exposure at flour production (in Turkish) Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Directorate General of Occupational Health and Safety Thesis for Occupational Health and Safety Expertise Ankara, 2016, Ankara. pp:81.
• Yıldızlar, H.Y., (2018). Investigation of noise, vibration thermal comfort parameters in A TEA factory. MSc. Thesis. Avrasya University Institute of Health Sciences, Trabzon, pp:67.