Investigation of noise exposure at the palm oil mills in Sabah: a qualitative study
Malaysia is the world's second-largest producer of palm oil. Despite being one of the most important products for the country, the number of workers harmed by noise exposure grows yearly. In addition, there is limited information on noise-induced hearing loss information in the occupational dis...
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | eng eng |
| Published: |
2022
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://etd.uum.edu.my/10056/1/depositpermission_s826874.pdf https://etd.uum.edu.my/10056/2/s826874_01.pdf |
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| Summary: | Malaysia is the world's second-largest producer of palm oil. Despite being one of the most important products for the country, the number of workers harmed by noise exposure grows yearly. In addition, there is limited information on noise-induced hearing loss information in the occupational disease statistic from DOSH and SOCSO. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the noise hazard trends, factors associated with occupational noise and recommend best practices for noise exposure monitoring at the palm oil mill. The study utilized qualitative content analysis based on reliable secondary data: a DOSH-registered noise risk assessor produced noise risk assessment reports. Based on the different locations, five palm oil mills in Sabah state located in Keningau, Lahad Datu, Tongod, Sandakan & Kota Kinabatangan were chosen for the study.
Thematic analysis was employed to identify the elements required for the noise exposure investigation in Palm Oil Mills. The findings revealed two big themes: area noise risk assessment and personal noise risk assessment. The first theme, area noise risk assessment, comprises two sub-themes: high noise area and source of the noise. On the other hand, the second theme, personal noise risk assessment, contributed to a sub-theme; personal monitoring & job
designation with high noise exposure. The study's outcomes will contribute to palm oil research, particularly on the employee experience of excessive noise exposure in palm oil mills in Sabah.
The study produced the best guideline for noise exposure monitoring procedure to the palm oil industry from the five-year content analysis based on noise risk assessment reports for various
palm oil mills in Sabah. Future studies may require investigating the noise exposure at palm oil mills to other states in Malaysia and further exploring the audiometric test result to obtain the cause of having a hearing impairment at work. |
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