title: An intervention for noise control of blast furnace in steel industry.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Noise pollution is currently a major health risk factor for workers in industries. The aim of this study was to investigate noise pollution and implement a control intervention plan for blast furnace in a steel industry.
  
  
  METHODS
  The measurement of sound pressure level (SPL) along with frequency analysis was done with the sound-level-meter Cell-450. Personal noise exposure was performed using dosimeter TES-1345 calibrated with CEL-282. Before planning noise controls, acoustic insulation properties of the furnace control unit and workers' rest room were assessed. Control room and workers' rest room were redesigned in order to improve acoustical condition.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The SPL before intervention around the Blast Furnace was 90.3 dB (L) and its dominant frequency was 4000 Hz. Besides, noise transmission loss of the control and rest rooms were 10.3 dB and 4.2 dB, respectively. After intervention, noise reduction rates in the control and rest rooms were 27.4 dB and 27.7 dB, respectively. The workers' noise dose before and after the intervention was 240% and less than 100%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Improvement the workroom acoustic conditions through noise insulation can be considered effective method for preventing workers exposure to harmful noise.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Hygiene, School of Public health and Research Centre for Health Sciences, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran.
authors.forename: Rostam
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Golmohammadi
authors.affiliation: Kurdistan Environmental Health Research Center, Department of Occupational Health, Faculty of Health, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran.
authors.forename: Omid
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Giahi
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Hygiene, School of Public health and Research Centre for Health Sciences, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aliabadi
authors.affiliation: Kurdistan Environmental Health Research Center, Department of Occupational Health, Faculty of Health, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran. darvishi.hse@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ebrahim
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Darvishi
mesh_terms: D000162:Acoustics; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D008669:Metallurgy; D009623:Noise, Occupational / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013232:Steel
chemical_list: D013232:Steel
keywords: Blast Furnace; Noise Control; Steel Industry; Workroom