An analysis of noise and its environmental burden on the example of Nigerian manufacturing companies.

This paper analyses the major noise producing machines, the effects of the noise, its control methods and the extent of the utilisation of these methods by the Nigerian manufacturing companies. Nine companies were chosen as models to represent the overall manufacturing sectors in Nigeria. The noise produced by the various machines and equipment used in the production processes in the companies was analysed. Results obtained showed that electricity generating sets produced the highest noise, followed by air compressor, boiler, pressing machine and other machines put together, in that order. The results also revealed that more than half of the total effects of noise are on workers. The effects of noise on workers are more of physiological than psychological. It is recommended that engineering controls combined with administrative controls should be considered as the methods that will provide thorough and permanent solution to the noise problem in the manufacturing companies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]