Analysis of Noise Levels in Manufacturing Processes of the Metallic Industry in Mexicali, Mexico, and Its Effect on the Occupational Health (Auditive System) of Operational Personnel of Manufacturing Areas

Abstract

The noise levels generated in industrial operations of the metalworking industry are a relevant factor in the occupational health of workers in the manufacturing areas of this type of important industry in the city of Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico and worldwide. This type of environmental ergonomics factor can cause risk to the hearing system of operating personnel, which can cause some types of health symptoms in the ear, one of the main ones being Ménière's disease, which can cause stress in people. Noise levels in the metallic industry usually exceed decibel levels (the maximum being 85 decibels (dB)), so a large part of the workers who operate equipment and machinery in this type of industry and are attended to at least one occasion by medical personnel from the industry where it allowed the development of the research, which greatly supported the improvement of the occupational health of operational personnel in manufacturing areas in this evaluated industry. An automatized system was designed and used to control the noise generated in the metallic industry where was made this investigation, which was made from 2022 to 2023.