Perception of noise pollution and occupational health and safety awareness in aircraft ground handling staff

Abstract

This research study has been carried out to find out the perception of noise pollution at the airport apron while carrying out tasks during aircraft turnaround. It is also to obtain an overview of the ground handling employees' occupational health and safety level of awareness. The researcher was interested in understanding whether or not these employees are effected by high levels of noise produced by aircraft and ground equipment, the protection they are given and the level of awareness of these employees. Malta International Airport plc. Fire and Rescue Department, Airmalta plc., Globeground Malta Ltd. and Enemalta Corporation took part in this study. In Europe there are around 160 million employed persons. One fifth of these workers have to speak loudly for at least half of the time that they are at their work place, to be heard. Noise induced hearing loss is the most prominent occupational diseases in the European Union, and 7% of this workforce suffers from work-related hearing problems. 21% of these workers are from the airport environment (Eurostat, 2004). Aircraft turnaround involves much more than just refuelling the aircraft enough to reach its destination. Marshalling aircraft, cleaning of passengers' cabin, catering replenishing, baggage and cargo handling, sanitary and potable water servicing, engineering checks and maintenance work, Fire safety inspections, getting passengers and crew onto and off the aircraft, are all activities carried out by airport employees. These are done from the moment when an aircraft lands and parks in its slot till it rolls off to head its way to the runway for take-off.