Noise produced from mechanised quarrying and occupational hazards at stirling quarry

Abstract

The research analyses the different occupational health impacts to the corresponding noise levels generated from given activities carried out at Stirling quarrying site in Mbalala district. Thirteen respondents were approached for relevant information through use of an interview guide for both workers and key informants at the site. Sound from selected activities and a few surrounding households was recorded and seismic damages on the walls of the houses observed. The research shows that mechanized activities at the quarry vary in the levels of noise released and recorded at different receptor locations. Different impacts that are faced at the site due to noise pollution have been recorded which shows that they are both short and long term to workers in the age bracket of 20 to 45 years , surrounding human beings and infrastructures. Annoyance, headache, hearing impairments are significantly the same amongst workers however, other effects like flue due to the dusty environment, skin burns and irritations due to the scotching sun, drowning of workers due to the open pit filled up with water during rainy seasons, eye irritations, accidents, injuries, lack of sleep are faced by both workers and neighboring inhabitants.