Noise Exposures in an Ethiopian Integrated Textile Mill

Chris Keil Environmental Health Program, Bowling Green State University

Solomon Yimer Working Conditions Inspection Department, Ethiopian Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs

Abera KumieCommunity Health Department, Addis Ababa University

Background - Ethiopia

• Under developed country in East Africa• 80% of workforce is in agricultural sector

• Most are subsistence farmers• Large proportion of what industry exists is tied to

agricultural sector• Leather• Livestock• Floriculture• Textiles

Background – Ethiopian OSH

• Legal structures for regulating OSH exist• Under-resourced• No specific regulations and procedures

• Need for economic development seen in tension with obligation to provide healthy and safe workplace

Background – Ethiopian OSH

• Almost no IH sampling equipment of any kind exists in the Country

• Virtually no exposure data of any kind• Some injury and fatality data• No data management system

Background - Project

• March 2005 AIHA International Development Fund sponsored a two-week Introduction to Occupational Hygiene course• MPH students• Ethiopian MOLSA inspection team members

• As part of course: Walkthrough of integrated textile facility• Negotiated use of dosimeters during walkthrough

and follow-up visits

Background – The Plant

• Adey Ababa Yarn, Share Co.• Integrated Textile Plant

• Baled cotton in• Finished garments out

• Founded 1961, Privatized in 1999, has since reverted to government ownership

• > 2,200 employees, 75% female

Research Question

• Do noise exposures in the facility present the risk of hearing loss to the employees• ACGIH criteria• OSHA criteria

Methods

• LD Spark 706 Dosimeters• Walkthrough

• Worn by students• Kept location log• Identify areas of potential high exposure

• Two Follow up visits• Partial shift personal and area monitoring• In areas identified during walkthrough

Walk through results

Walk through results

• High noise levels identified in • Blowing• Yarn making• Blanket making

• Blowing had very few employees• Follow up assessments were done for yarn

making and blanket making departments

Yarn Making – Day 1

Yarn Making – Day 2

Blanket Making – Day 1

Blanket Making – Day 2

Yarn Making Doses

2.444.189.184.5Etalemahu

10.560.116387.1Bizuayehu

34.077.427589.4Abaynesh

11.255.714586.7Birke

PELHCTLVLEQWorker

8 hour projected dose (%)

Blanket Making Doses

8.355.114486.7Ibrahim

9.049.912986.2Area

14.457.815286.9Area

5.248.212085.9Ibrahim

11013261992.9Mekuria

41.267.823088.7Asfaw

PELHCTLVLEQWorker

8 hour projected dose (%)

Assessment Summary

• Walkthrough dosimetry with location log was useful for identifying high risk areas

• In these two departments noise exposures are routinely over ACGIH TLVs

• OSHA action level routinely exceeded• PEL rarely exceeded• Observation and limited data suggests that older

blanket making equipment is louder

Control Options

• Source control• Balancing, maintenance, etc. on older machines

difficult due to lack of parts.• Expertise and materials lacking for other source

modifications including vibration reduction and dampening.

• Control between sources and workers• Specialized sound absorbing materials not readily

available

Control Options

• Personal protection• Availability of hearing protectors is very limited• What is available is very expensive

• Hearing health management• Audiometry essentially not available• Hearing aids not available

• Options are limited without external support

Conclusions

• In one factory a sizeable proportion of the employs are exposed to noise levels that put their hearing at risk.• The factory is considered typical by MOLSA

inspectors• Access to resources, both physical and human,

for the reduction of this risks is extremely limited• International development assistance should

include provisions for a healthy workforce.

Acknowledgements

• AIHA International Development fund• Adey Ababa management and workers• Ethiopian MOLSA Workplace Inspection unit• MPH students in the Department of Community

Health, Faculty of Medicine, Addis Ababa University