CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

Some of the industries suffer from loud noise and huge vibrations. Industries like
manufacturing companies, construction site, services and other company that involves big
machineries, equipment, jigs and trucks. Some of the firms view this as a major problem
knowing that it can risk the health of the people.
Noise is defined as the unwanted sound appearing unpleasant to human ear.
Noise can block, distort, change or interfere with the meaning of a message in human,
animal and electronic communication. Vibration refers to mechanical oscillations about
an equilibrium point. The oscillations may be periodic such as the motion of a pendulum
or random such as the movement of a tire on a gravel road. In addition, there two types
of vibration; Free vibration occurs when a mechanical system is set off with an initial
input and then allowed to vibrate freely. Examples of this type of vibration are pulling a
child back on a swing and then letting go or hitting a tuning fork and letting it ring. The
mechanical system will then vibrate at one or more of its "natural frequency" and damp
down to zero. The other one is Forced vibration is when an alternating force or motion is
applied to a mechanical system. Examples of this type of vibration include a shaking
washing machine due to an imbalance, transportation vibration (caused by truck engine,
springs, road, etc.), or the vibration of a building during an earthquake. In forced
vibration the frequency of the vibration is the frequency of the force or motion applied,
with order of magnitude being dependent on the actual mechanical system
(http://www.wikipedia.org, 22 Sept 2010).
According to the Health and Safety Manual 2003, Exposure to noise can induce
hearing loss, depending on the intensity, duration, frequency and individual susceptibility.
Damage can involve loss of hearing ability, possibly made worse by permanent tinnitus
(ringing in the ears) and other effects such as temporary threshold shift, sufferers find it
difficult to distinguish words clearly. Moreover, noise at work can cause other problems,
such as distraction, interference with communication, and stress. Although the Noise at
Work Regulations does not directly address these issues, they will form an important part
of the assessment of risks required under the Management of Health and Safety
Regulations 1999. On the other hand, Over the last few years there has been an increase
in concern about the need to reduce the effect that prolonged and regular work with high-
vibration hand-held tools can have on the hands and arms of the users. Without any
effective controls, employees using such equipment may suffer various forms of damage
collectively known as ‘hand arm vibration’. The best known form of damage is ‘vibration
white finger’.
Hand Arm Vibration (HAV) is vibration that reaches the hands when using some
hand-held tools. HAV is the generic term for damage caused to the hands after excessive
exposure to vibration. Hazardous vibration levels can be found in a variety of industries
including, agriculture, construction, demolition, forestry and quarrying, but it is most often
associated with the pneumatic drills that are used in road-working. Vibration with a
frequency range between 2-1500 Hertz (Hz) or cycles per second is considered to be
potentially damaging, and the most hazardous frequency is between 5-20 Hz.

Statement of the Problem

Most of the industries suffer from loud noise and huge vibration. This problem
can be a threat to the health of the employees and the people involved in this problem.
However many industries solve this issue by means of reducing it through the principle of
Engineering Safety and Engineering Methods.

In relation to this, the study will try to answer the following questions:

1. What is noise and vibration in the workplace?

2. What is the harmful effect of noise and vibration in the health of the workers?
3. How noise can be a major distraction in communication?
4. Is there is a solution to reduce noise in the workplace?
5. How noise and vibration can influence stress?
6. What are the safety equipment used to reduce noise in the workplace?
7. How noise and vibration can influence the working efficiency among the workers
of IPF-tak?

Objectives of the Study

The main objective of the study is to determine how noise and vibration can influence the
working efficiency among the workers of IPF-TAK. The study includes the effective
measurement to reduce the noise and vibration in the workplace. In addition, this study
aims the following objectives;

1. To identify what is noise and vibration.

2. To determine the harmful effects of noise and vibration in the health of the
workers.
3. To determine the distraction of noise in the communication of the workers.
4. To establish the solution in reducing the noise in the workplace.
5. To find out the influence of noise and vibration in stress.
6. To distinguish the safty equipment used to reduce noise in the workplace.
7. To determine how noise and vibration can influence the working
efficiency of the workers.

Significance of the Study

Most of the industries are aware of the harmful effects of loud noise and repeated
vibration. Some industries will invest capital in reducing this problem by means of
implementing Safety procedures and Ergonomics.

To the workers of IPF-TAK

The workers will determine the harmful effects of noise and vibration to their
health. The readers will also be aware of the risk involving noise and vibration.
To the Engineering students of Letran Calamba
The study will help Engineering students to apply their learnings in
Occupational and safety subject, and to have an insight on how they can reduce
this major problem through the principle of Safety Engineering. Moreover,
Industrial Enginnering Students can use their learning and techniques to apply the
principles of Methods Engineering.

To the Management of the IPF-TAK

This study can help the management of the IPF-TAK to promote good
working conditions. In addition, the study can also help the management to give
immediate solution to this kind of problem and can determine the effects of noise
and vibration in the workers. The management may view this as an opportunity
rather than cost.

Scope and Limitations

The scope of the study is to determine the influence of noise and vibration among
the workers of the IPF-TAK. This study will conduct in the production are of the
company. This analysis is conducted in IPF-TAK Calamba City. The researcher
will probably determine the cause and effect of this problem.
The limitation of the study is conducted only on the production area of the
said company. The researcher will focus and discuss the harmful effect of noise
and vibration, influence among the working efficiency of the workers and other
problem stated in the problem.
 CHAPTER I

An analysis on the influence of noise and vibration on working

efficiency among the workers of IPF-TAK Calamba City.

Submitted by:
Halili, Joshua B.
Camacho Ralph S.