Assessing Individual and Environmental Sound Pressure Level and Sound Mapping in Iranian Safety Shoes Factory

Noise is regarded as a major physical hazard in work environments. The current study aimed
at investigating environmental sound pressure level and sound mapping in an Iranian safety shoes
production factory in 2017 using Surfer V.13. This cross-sectional, descriptive-analytical study was
conducted among 3 units of a safety shoes production factor. Casella noise dosimeter (Cel-320) was used
to measure individuals’ exposure to noise, while 450 Casella-Cel sound level meter (manufactured in
England) was utilized to assess environmental sound pressure level. The collected data were then fed into
Surfer V.13 to draw the isosonic map. The results of assessing individuals’ exposure showed that workers
in the cutting, stitching, and stuffing unit had excessive exposure to noise (over 85.76 dB, which is the
standard limit). The results of measuring environmental sound pressure level also showed that 32.3% of
the measurement stations were located in the danger zone (with sound pressure levels greater than 85 dBA).
The highest sound pressure levels measured in Lewis and lineage, injection, and cutting, stitching, and
stuffing units were 88, 89, and 93 dB, respectively. Based on the obtained results, the cutting, stitching
and stuffing is in dire need of engineering controls and working, trafficking, and stopping limitations.