Noise Pollution in the Utilities Industries in Saudi Arabia

Noise presents health and social problems in industrial operations, and is mainly related to machinery used in the industries. The present study was conducted in the different utilities industries in Jeddah Industrial Estate (JIE), in order to assess the magnitude of the problem of industrial noise exposure there in an endeavor to propose remedial controls to the problem. Noise was measured in a random sample of 28 factories, representing 6 activities, at different day times. Results indicated that the noise levels vary, mostly, according to the type of industry and the size of the enterprise and the type and the number of the machinery used. The highest noise exposures exist in the cables, the concrete and the construction supplies, and the glass industries where, mostly, all the recorded dB(A) measurements (Leq, Max SPL and Min SPL) are higher than 85 dB(A), while the lowest exposures exist in the food processing and the dairy products and beverages industries, where all the average Leq dB(A) measurements are lower than 85 dB(A). It has been concluded that such noise pollution can present health problems to the workers, a situation which calls for a rapid planning of strategies for noise control and hearing conservation programs including:  Measuring occupational noise exposure.  Creating noise map of the factories.  Controlling noise wherever is necessary.  Pre-employment hearing tests.  Periodical hearing test programs. Keywords— Industrial noise pollution; Electric appliances and supplies; Plastic and glass products; Food processing; Dairy products; Saudi Arabia