1INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE ON EOHS Introduction The occupational noise is the amount of energy that is received by the auditory system ofanemployeewhentheemployeesareworkingintheirrespectiveindustries.The occupational noise is also considered as an occupational hazard and they are associated to the industries those are loud such as mining, shipbuilding and many such industries but they can be present in any place of work where these hazardous noises are present. The disease those are caused by noise include hearing loss, cardiovascular diseases, stress, fatigue from loss of sleep and many more diseases. Due to the occupational noise, the employees suffer from all these kind of diseases. Relationship between Disease and Agent Due to loud noises in the industries such as mining, shipbuilding and several industries, the employees who work in these industries suffer from these occupational diseases such as hearing loss, cardiovascular diseases, stress and many other diseases. The relationship between occupational noise and the diseases is that the long exposure of noise to the ears of the workers and the employees can cause severe effect on the ears and brain of the employees leading to these diseases1. Asian Countries The two Asian Countries where these ailments are common include Bangladesh and Singapore2. The existing scenarios of the two countries Bangladesh and Singapore is not good. Many people are suffering from the occupational diseases. There are various industries in two countries that generate huge noise and due to this; the employees and the workers are suffering from the occupational diseases those are caused due to noise. There are also various diseases such as sleep disorder, cardiovascular diseases but the ratio of hearing loss is more in Singapore and Bangladesh. The number of people suffering from acute hearing loss is more than any other disease. Protective and preventive measure should be taken by the two countries in order to reduce the occupational diseases caused by noise. Comparison of Protective Measures In bangladesh, several protective measures are taken so that they can reduce these diseases. The industries where the loud noises are being produced have carried out training programs for the employees about these occupational diseases. The Industries are trying to lessen the noise by reducing the noise at the source3. The industries are also carrying out
2INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE ON EOHS hearing loss prevention programs such as noise control, assessment of noise, monitoring of the audiometric and many more. The industries have also made free check up for the workers. In Singapore, protective and preventive measures are taken in order to reduce the occupationaldiseasescausedduetonoise.InSingapore,undertheWorkInjury Compensation Act, the employees can claim medical expenses from the company. This is very important for the employees4. Singapore has carried out several hearing conservation programme so that they can understand the industries where most of the most of the noise are producedandcanreducetheoccupationalnoisediseases.Thehearingconservation programme includes risk assessment, risk control, monitoring, feedback, and evaluation of the results. Standards in Other Countries In the United States of America, the NIOSH and the OSHA work in unison in order to provide standards and regulations for noise in the place of work5. The NIOSH, OSHA, MSHA and FRA have set their standards on the occupational noise those are hazardous in their industries. Every industry is different as the task of the workers and the equipment differs but most of the regulations become harmful when it crosses 85 decibel.In Australia several protective measures have been taken that is employees are provided with earmuffs and earplugs as they are exposed to loud noises in the industries. The industries in Australia have provided audiometric testing to an employee that requires utilising personal hearing protectors. The industries in Australia have taken several measures such as engineering controls and administrative controls so that they can lessen the occupational noise hazards. In United States Of America, protective measures have been taken by them such as less exposure of the employees to the noise, isolating the source of noise, limiting the exposure of worker and utilising effective protecting devices. They have also started various programs in order to attenuate the occupational noise and provide training to the workers. OSHA in USA carries this out.
3INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE ON EOHS References 1.Eriksson HP, Andersson E, Schiöler L, Söderberg M, Sjöström M, Rosengren A, Torén K. Longitudinal study of occupational noise exposure and joint effects with job strain and risk for coronary heart disease and stroke in Swedish men. BMJ open. 2018 Apr 1;8(4):e019160. 2.IsmailN,RahmatSB.OverviewofoccupationalnoisemanagementinMalaysia. International Journal of Allied Health Sciences. 2018 Dec 30;2(3):445-58. 3.Kurt RE, McKenna SA, Gunbeyaz SA, Turan O. Investigation of occupational noise exposure in a ship recycling yard. Ocean Engineering. 2017 Jun 1;137:440-9. 4.Sarwar F, Malik RN, Chow CW, Alam K. Occupational exposure and consequent health impairments due to potential incidental nanoparticles in leather tanneries: An evidential appraisal of south Asian developing countries. Environment international. 2018 Aug 1;117:164-74. 5.Buksh N, Nargis Y, Yun C, He D, Ghufran M. Occupational noise exposure and its impact on worker’s health and activities. International Journal of Public Health and Clinical Sciences. 2018 Apr 26;5(2):180-95.