To cite this paper: Latifi Naeini R.and Bahri Hj Mohd Tamrin SH. 2014. The Association between Noise Exposure Level and Occupational Stress Level as a Non-Auditory Effects of Noise Among Palm oil Mill Workers. Asian J. Med. Pharm. Res., 4 (2): 91-96. 91 The Association between Noise Exposure Level and Occupational Stress Level as a Non-Auditory Effects of Noise among Palm oil Mill Workers Roya Latifi Naeini* and Shamsul Bahri Hj Mohd Tamrin* Occupational Safety and Health Department,University Putra Malaysia,Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia * Corresponding author’s Email: uvea_2000@yahoo.com ABSTRACT: Palm Oil Mills are among the nosiest industrial workplaces, whereby excessive noise poses a threat to the health of organization and cause serious consequences. Excessive noise exposure gradually affects auditory and non-auditory aspects of health. The set symptoms are referred to as occupational stress, having a direct impact on concentration, thereby reducing the efficiency and productivity levels of organization. Therefore the objective of this study was to determine, in depth, the association between noise exposure and stress levels among Oil Palm Mill Workers. The study’s scope was on the non-auditory effects of excessive noise. The participants were 62 workers of two selected Palm Oil mills. They were chosen through proportional stratified sampling based on the objective of this study the individual noise exposure level and environmental sound level were examined among samples while on the other hand O’Donnell inventory was utilized as a tool to determine the stress level and finally the relationship between stress levels. Evidence shows that Physiological and performance effects are the two most important body reflexes affected by high exposure risky noise levels. Noise as an occupational factor contributes to high occupational stress levels. Moreover subsequently, comprehensive solutions have been provided to this crisis. Keywords: Noise Exposure, Non-Auditory Effects, Occupational Stress, Palm Oil Mill ORIGINAL ARTICLE Received 04 Apr. 2014 Accepted 30 May. 2014 INTRODUCTION The excessive noise, resulting from the operating machinery is a common problem that cannot be overlooked in industrial workplaces. According to the Malaysian’s Factory and Machinery Act, Noise Exposure Regulation 1989 any sound level above 90 dB (A) is s considered as exceeding the Standard permitted by law. Continuously working at exposure to high levels of noise, after a period of time will cause variety of adverse effects to health namely auditory (hearing impairment) and non- auditory (entire organism, central and autonomic nervous system) effects(Juraj,2012). A significantly number of researches had investigated on the potential of noise- induced hearing loss in terms of auditory effects (Tung,2013;Russo,2013;Cruickshanks,2010). Thus the relationship between hearing impairment and excessive noise exposure has been well established (Hanidza,2013). In addition, some of the literatures attempt to find the relationship between intense noise exposure level and non- auditory effects (Chang,2009).The implication of the plethora epidemiological studies conducted over the years shows that noise impacts a wide range of health parameters. Whereby various negative non-auditory effects is often related to occupational noise exposure and has a significant association with a range of indicators of physical health. Observational and experimental studies have shown that environmental noise exposure leaded to annoyance, closely interrelated stress sleep disturbances and causes Fatigue during the day (Frei,2013), affects patient outcomes in hospital(Basner,2013)and staff performance in different workplaces, increases the occurrence of hypertension and cardiovascular disease, and impairs cognitive performance in schoolchildren(Ljungberg,2007). The package of adverse effects of long-term occupational noise exposure causes occupational stress that usually affects individuals’ performance and Physical and mental health and has a negative impact upon job satisfaction. The relations between noise from aircraft or road traffic near airports and the risk of hypertension as an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease has been surveyed by Jarup in 2008 among residential neighbourhoods near Sydney Airport . He explored a significant association between a range of indicators of physical health and including cardiovascular problems (Black,2013) Evidence shows that the risk of ischemic heart disease increased among people living in noise exposure levels exceeding more than 65–70 dBA (Babisch,2000). On the other hand the direct effects of long term exposure to occupational noise on textile industry workers’ lung functions were probed by António Paes and his co-workers. They obviously confirmed that long term noise exposure can increase the loss of ciliated cells and impairment of airways clearance . Insomnia is © 2014 Scienceline Publication www.science-line.com ISSN: 2322-4789 Asian Journal of Medical and Pharmaceutical Researches Asian J. Med. Pharm. Res. 3(4): 91-96, 2014 AJMPR