Status of Industrial Noise Levels and Impact on Workers’ Health: A Case Study of Kalurghat Heavy Industrial Area in Bangladesh

Noise is the silent killer which has the ability to deteriorate the normal health condition of a person. People working in heavy industries have a high risk of being affected by noise and this phenomenon is unequivocally true for a country like Bangladesh. This paper identified the status of noise levels, their ultimate impact on workers’ health, and noise reduction compliance in Kalurghat Heavy Industrial Area (KHIA) of Chittagong. Eleven companies gave access to collect data related to noise issues inside and outside of their factories. While the average inside and outside noise levels were within the limit of 75 decibels (dBA), excessive noise at 89 dBA from several sources like dryer machines and generators are a concern. A semi structured questionnaire was also used to collect data related to noise related compliance issue from the respective personnel of the factories. The study found that most of the factories hardly use physical mechanisms to control excessive noise.