Introduction
Identification of the hazard
Noise and vibration hazards are some of the risks that employees and public in general are often exposed to by the leading companies, especially in the manufacturing and transport sectors. Any sound beyond the normal level is often an irritant, and when it surpasses a certain level then it becomes hazardous. However, Guidotti (28) says that this is one of the industrial hazards which have largely been ignored despite the danger it exposes the employees and the general public to. In the United Arab Emirates, noise pollution is often common in companies, the transport sector, and even in nightclubs.
The government of Dubai has set up regulations concerning the level of noise permitted for these clubs but reports indicate that these regulations are often violated without any consequences. There is a regulation that requires firms to ensure that employees are protected from excessive sounds from machines and other equipment they use in the workplace. However, most of the Emirati firms have not come up with effective ways of managing sound pollution at workplace. Guidotti (41) says that this is not a problem unique to Saudi Arabia. The developed countries like the United States and United Kingdom are still struggling with the problem of noise pollution from the industrial sector.
Vibration hazards are the most commonly ignored industrial hazards which have serious consequences to the affected individuals. According to Hickman and Banister (79), “Hand-Arm Vibration (HAV) is a condition caused by regular exposure to vibrating and percussive tools, or working with material in contact with grinding or cutting operations.” This problem is very common among the employees working at the road construction sites and those working in excavation sites.
These machines are very dangerous to the joints of the body, especially when one is exposed to such vibrations for a long time. Guidotti (55) says that it is very unfortunate that the United Arab Emirates’ government is still not clear in defining this hazard and how it should be dealt with in the industrial sector. It has been reported that when road construction companies are working within the residential areas, vibrations beyond the normal levels have been recorded. This is worrying.
Noise and vibration hazards are concerns that have been in existence since industrial revolution, but the society is yet to come up with effective ways of addressing the problem. It has been challenging to come up with proper legislations that can ensure that people are protected from undesirable levels of noise or vibration either at work or in any other settings because of the health consequences that the problem has on the affected people.
Quantification of the hazard
According to Guidotti (44), it is not easy to quantify noise and vibration hazards because they are rarely reported. In the United Arab Emirates, most of these noise and vibration hazards are often ignored unless they have reached unbearable levels. The government of this country has no database of noise and vibration hazards occurrences because there is still no such mechanism of collecting and storing such data.
However, Guidotti (52) says that whether in developed or developing countries, individuals above 5 years have a likelihood of over 95% of having been exposed to sounds above the normal level. Those in the developing and mid-level economies such as that of the United Arab Emirates have higher rates of exposure to noise and vibration hazards. For instance, the government of Dubai has been silent about the noise pollution coming from the Dubai International Airport.
A recent report by Hickman and Banister (56) shows that over 65% of people living near major airports have hearing problems because of the constant noise from the planes. There are a number of families residing near the Dubai International Airport. These families are consistently exposed to noise and vibration hazards both day and night. In fact, Guidotti (88) says that in an interval of less than 60 minutes, there is always a plane that is either landing or taking off, and with it comes serious sound and vibration pollution. The fact that the relevant authorities and stakeholders are silent about it does not mean that these hazards are less harmful to human health.
Mitigating strategies to reduce the risk of the hazard
The society should start realizing that noise and vibration hazards are just as dangerous as any other form of industrial hazards such as chemical, fire, radiation, or biological hazards. People exposed to noise and vibration pollution for a long time may develop serious health problems that may completely redefine their lifestyle. Noise pollution may cause serious hearing problems in the long run.
Vibration pollution, one of the most ignored forms of pollution, may cause serious nervous problem if one is exposed to it for a long time. In fact, Hickman and Banister (33) say that a person who has been working with heavy vibrator for a long time may end up being unable to even hold a glass of water because the hand will start shaking uncontrollably due to the damage on the nervous system. To come up with proper mitigation measures, the government will need to work very closely with the stakeholders in the industrial sector and the general public to come up with policies that will address these problems.
The policies should not only focus on protecting the public from noise and vibration hazards but also the employees working in the industrial sector. There should be a level of noise emission allowable and beyond which government will be expected to take corrective measures. The stakeholders should also come up with policies that will ensure that the employees working in the industrial sector, especially the booming construction sector, are not exposed to high rates of vibration that may cause serious health problems to them.
Examples of the selected Hazard
A study by Meiners and Edwards (67) shows that noise and vibration hazards are some of the least studied forms of industrial hazards in the modern society. For a long time, it has been left for the employees’ union to champion for better workplace environment for employees that is free from excessive noise and vibration. Guidotti (67) says that a problem like vibration is rarely talked about even by the employees’ union because of the perception that it is a less serious problem that is relatively rare compared with other problems.
However, many healthcare centers have recorded increasing cases of health problems related to noise and vibration hazards. Most of these problems go unreported, especially because the affected individuals often believe that the problem will just come to an end when they take a rest for some time. In this section, the researchers looked at specific examples of noise and vibration hazards that have been recorded in various parts of the world in the recent past.
South African Gold Miners Suffering from Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome
Why the accident happened
South Africa is the leading exporter of gold in the world according to a recent study by (Bhushan, Hazra, and Banerjee 23). However, it is unfortunate that less attention has been given to the nature of environment that the miners are exposed to in the fields. A study conducted by Bhushan, Hazra, and Banerjee (25) has brought to light the inhumane environment that these people are exposed to and how the owners of the mining companies in this country have ignored the suffering of their people despite having the full knowledge of the problem.
The gold miners often have to excavate the earth to go deep underground for the precious metal. This involves the use of heavy excavation equipment. These tools, just like the tools used in road excavation during construction process, rely on a vibration force to dig the earth. The miners are forced to use these tools to go deep down underground for the precious metal.
Bhushan, Hazra, and Banerjee (31) say that the main problem is that most of the tools that these people are assigned are outdated and hence are not able to effectively absorb the vibration shocks as they are expected to under normal circumstances. It means that the miners are fully exposed to the shock coming from the vibrators. The study revealed that majority of those who have worked in these mines for longer than ten years suffered from hand-arm vibration syndrome (Bhushan, Hazra, and Banerjee 38).
This accident is directly caused by the negligence of the mine owners who are not taking into consideration the need to protect their employees from workplace hazards. It is also worsened by the fact that the affected employees rarely seek early medical attention when they start experiencing the problem. They wait till they are bed-ridden for them to be taken to hospital because they are forced to report to work every day to get their earnings.
The damage that resulted from the accident
The incident has had serious damages on the affected employees. The report indicated that a number of gold miners have lost their lives in the workplace because of hand-arm vibration syndrome (Bhushan, Hazra, and Banerjee 41). People affected by this syndrome may find it difficult to hold objects firmly. Sometimes an object bay falls off from their hands because of the impaired nervous system that cannot issue commands that are to be adequately followed by the hands.
As such, an object may easily fall off from the hands of the affected person causing serious injuries. Sometime it may be a situation where such a person cannot hold onto a rope or any other safety equipment that is supposed to offer him protection when in the hazardous mining places in the underground. When the nervous breakdown occurs when they are in a delicate position, then they can easily die or sustain life-threatening injuries.
A study of these South African mines revealed that this problem has been given little attention by the relevant government authorities (Bhushan, Hazra, and Banerjee 44). It is the workers and their unions and a few human rights groups who are trying to demand for a change of affairs at these mines.
How to prevent these accidents from happening
Hand-arm vibration syndrome affecting the South African miners is a problem that can be solved if there is goodwill from the relevant stakeholders. The government, mining companies, and employees’ union should come together and come up with a common strategy that can prevent future problems among the miners. As Bhushan, Hazra, and Banerjee (52) suggest, employees who are using heavy equipment which have significant amounts of vibration should be subject to regular medical check to ensure that they are in perfect body shape.
They should also be regularly switched to other assignments where they are not exposed to any form of vibration. The mine owners should find a way of implementing these regulations. The government of South Africa should come up with ways of ensuring that these suggestions are made to become policies that are enforceable by the court of law. The government should also partner with the employees’ unions to ensure that the policies developed are fully respected by all the mining companies. As Bhushan, Hazra, and Banerjee (55) say, it is only through development of a legal structure that a lasting solution to this problem can be established.
Atlantic Cement Company, Inc. Vibration Pollution
Why the accident happened
The Atlantic Cement Company started its operations in Albany, New York in 1962. The owners of this company had invested over $ 45 million into this cement project and by 1970 it had employed over 300 locals working in various positions (Meiners and Edwards 47).
However, the company failed to take into consideration the pollution from its activities and its impacts on the locals. One of the main environmental hazards that the company had on the locals was the massive vibration from its heavy machineries. When it started its operations in 1962, the excavation was done on the furthest end from where people lived. However, as the harvesting continued, the company was forced to move to its land reserves.
The problem was that these reserves were located close to residential areas. Most of the residents complained that among other pollutants from the company, the vibration was unbearable. They stated that it was practically impossible for them to stay in their houses at daytime because of the vibrations. After a long consultation with the company that yielded no fruit, it forced the locals to choose litigation as the only way of addressing their problem.
The court awarded the locals compensations for the sufferings they had endured. However, the company’s operations were not ordered to stop. Instead, the company was instructed to continue compensating the locals for the sufferings they had to endure. Meiners and Edwards (62) say that the company was able to prove to the court that it was using the most modern technologies in their company and as such, did not neglect their responsibility to protect the immediate environment.
The damage that resulted from the accident
This problem had serious socio-economic problems among all the parties involved. According to Meiners and Edwards (67), the nature of vibration coming from the company accompanied by other environmental pollutants meant that the area could not be suitable for important institutions such as schools and hospitals. It meant that development of this area in that context was limited.
Most of the families stated that the massive vibration from the company caused cracks in their buildings. They had to incur regular cost of repair which was an expensive venture given that some of the families were of humble background. The impact of the vibration on the buildings also meant that high-rise buildings could not be constructed in the area, further impeding economic development. There was also the social problem of lack of comfort. The local families could not spend daytime in their houses because of the massive vibration from the company (Meiners and Edwards 78). They had to spend most of their daytime away from home.
This was frustrating for people who were sick and had to spend time resting at home. Some of the locals also reported cases where items would fall and break within their homes because of the massive vibration. The company itself also suffered economic loss. The court found it guilty of causing discomfort among the locals. As such, it was instructed to pay the local community for the damages. It was also instructed to continue compensating these people for the continued discomfort.
How to prevent these accidents from happening
The best way of solving this problem would have been full compensation of the locals and a possible relocation to other areas where they would be protected from these pollutants. The company made an effort to compensate them, but the decision to continue with the compensation while these people remained in the high risk area was wrong. They should have been instructed to move to safe regions after receiving full compensation.
Noise Pollution at Palm Jumeirah
Why the accident happened
Palm Jumeirah is one of the most beautiful residential areas in the city of Dubai and it is very popular among the middle class. Most of the residents here have a beautiful sea view that is very peaceful especially on hot weather. However, the locals have complained of the noise from some of the major roads off the island. The road adjacent to this estate doubles up as race tracks in the evening hours (Meiners and Edwards 84).
Ferrari and Porsche are some of the popular race cars which are common on this road almost every evening. These cars are known not only for their high speed, but also massive amount of sound when they are at their top speed.
The locals are forced to either spend time outside their houses in the evening hours or bear the irritating sound from the road. Meiners and Edwards (97) say that even in morning hours or at night when the racing has come to an end, the neighborhood is always noisy because of the heavy vehicles using the road at that time. Some of the taxis have been blamed for unnecessarily hooting, further causing noise pollution in the area. This is common in the morning hours when there are high numbers of cars on the road.
The damage that resulted from the accident
According to a report by Meiners and Edwards (102), noise pollution from vehicles is not adequately reported because people often blame themselves for choosing to stay in such residential areas. In this case study, most of the affected families often consider moving out of the neighborhood as the best solution to their problem hence they never share the traumatic experience with the relevant authorities.
Others try to find their own solutions by finding means of insulating their houses from the noise pollution coming from the road. This problem has caused some families financial constraints by having to look for alternative residential areas at a time when they had no plans to do so. Other than the irritation, the residents are yet to report any adverse health problems sustained from this environmental pollutant.
However, Meiners and Edwards (115) say that this may be so because the hospitals are not publishing reports about hearing problems reported to them and the possible causes of such problems. Being exposed to constant sound from racing cars such as Ferrari for a long time may have serious hearing consequences on the affected individuals. The fact that there are no reported cases does not mean the problem does not exist. The problem exists, only that most of the affected individuals have not considered seeking solutions as a group.
How to prevent these accidents from happening
It is possible to have measures that can help mitigate this problem. The government of Dubai should ensure that major roads, especially those used by racing cars and those meant for heavy commercial vehicles do not pass through residential areas.
This is a policy issue that can only be addressed by the government of Dubai. It may require construction of other roads that can be used as alternative routes for the heavy commercial tracks and race cars. This will reduce the current noise problem to bearable levels. Alternatively, there should be a policy that should prohibit construction of residential houses along busy roads used by heavy commercial cars and race cars. This should be applied in cases where the government is unable to find alternative roads for the heavy commercial vehicles and race cars.
Noise Pollution from Dubai International Airport
Why the accident happened
Dubai international airport is one of the busiest airports in the Middle East. It receives high number of local and international planes at a very high frequency. This is specifically so because of the increasing relevance of the city of Dubai as a major economic and tourist hub in the region. As Stanley and Dumper (52) say, the airport is of strategic importance to Dubai and the entire United Arab Emirates.
However, it is also one of the major sources of noise pollution, especially among the families staying near the airport. Most of the families living close to this airport have been forced to withstand the constant irritating sound from the planes which are either landing or taking off. There is almost a clear pattern that in less than one hour there is a plane either landing or taking off. Some of the large planes have deafening sound which is very irritating to the families living in the close neighborhood.
According to a research done by Hickman and Banister (88), some of these families have complained of lack of peaceful nights because of the constant sounds from landing or taking planes. They complained that it was practically impossible to have a peaceful night sleep in this neighborhood. At daytime, conversations would often be disrupted for a few seconds as the plane roars from or into the sky from the airport. The local community feels that the airport authority is not doing enough to address this problem.
The damage that resulted from the accident
The noise pollution from Dubai International Airport has majorly been classified as a social and health problem. Some of the locals complained that long stay at home exposes them to long hours of pollution causing some hearing problems. A study conducted by Hickman and Banister (63) showed that children living near the airport are more likely to be diagnosed of hearing problems than those who are living in quiet neighborhoods away from constant unbearable noise.
Such hearing-related problems have financial consequences. The affected family members will require constant medication to help them overcome their problem. The locals also complained that it was challenging for ailing members of families, especially those suffering from headaches, to stay at home because of the noise. Sometimes it would force these members of the families to stay longer than normal in hospitals because of the undesirable environment at home. This translates to high costs of medication.
How to prevent these accidents from happening
This incident from Dubai International Airport can be mitigated to ensure that it does not affect the local community. As Stanley and Dumper (81) proposes, it may be necessary for the airport to join hands with the real estate developers to come up with specially-fabricated houses that are insulated from excessive noise coming from the planes for the locals. This is an already existing technology that has been used in other parts of the world hence can be very helpful in addressing this problem. Such housing units will ensure that the locals are safe from any form of sound pollution as long as they remain indoors.
The airport should also work with individual airline companies to ensure that their planes use the latest technologies which have low sound emissions. The government should also come up with a policy that will encourage families with young children to consider having alternative houses away from the noisy neighborhoods close to the airport. This is so because studies have indicated that young children are more vulnerable to sound pollution than adults (Hickman and Banister 47). As such, it would be appropriate to raise them away from this area.
Conclusion
Noise and vibration hazards are increasingly becoming common in our modern society and it is important for the stakeholders to come up with effective solutions that can help deal with the problem. For a long time, the society has ignored these two hazards, especially vibration. However, this study has indicated that these hazards are just as dangerous as other occupational hazards. The case study shows that in South Africa, there are gold miners who are completely incapacitated because of long use of machines with high levels of vibration.
Such people cannot hold items in their hands steadily because their nervous system is completely incapacitated. In New York, some families are forced to move out of a place they have called home for several years because of the massive vibration from a local cement company.
In Dubai, several families lack peace both day and night because of the constant noise from the major roads and from the Dubai International Airport. The government of Dubai now has guidelines meant to regulate noise pollution from various quarters. However, these regulations have not helped families living next to the airports and major highways. It means that further policy measures are needed to address noise pollution. Vibration pollution has not been given the necessary attention it deserves. The government should consider coming up with relevant policies to address this problem.
Works Cited
Bhushan, Chandra, Monali Hazra, and Souparno Banerjee. Rich Lands, Poor People: Is ‘sustainable’ Mining Possible? New Delhi: Centre for Science and Environment, 2008. Print.
Guidotti, Tee. Global Occupational Health. New York, N.Y: Oxford University Press, 2011. Print.
Hickman, Robin, and David Banister. Handbook on Transport and Development. New York:, Springer, 2015. Print.
Meiners, Roger, and Frances Edwards. The Legal Environment of Business. Mason, OH: South-Western Cengage Learning, 2008. Print.
Stanley, Bruce, and Michael Dumper. Cities of the Middle East and North Africa: A Historical Encyclopedia. Oxford: ABC-Clio, 2007. Print.