Abstract

Construction workers in Nigeria are frequently exposed to hazardous noise levels, yet limited empirical evidence exists on how this affects their hearing health and productivity. This study investigates the dual impacts of noise exposure on construction workers in Abuja, Nigeria, addressing both auditory health outcomes and efficiency losses. A mixed-methods design was adopted: noise levels were objectively measured across six construction sites, structured questionnaires were distributed to 350 workers (326 valid responses, 93.1% response rate), and 30 semi-structured interviews were conducted. Results indicate that workers are routinely exposed to 80–88 dB, primarily from heavy machinery (87.1%) and power tools (77.6%), levels exceeding international thresholds. Regression analysis showed noise significantly reduced productivity (β = –0.420, p < 0.001), while education (β = 0.352, p = 0.014) and years of experience (β = 0.198, p = 0.029) were positive predictors. Interviews revealed fatigue, impaired concentration, and communication failures, alongside reports of ringing in the ears and temporary hearing loss. The study concludes that excessive occupational noise compromises both hearing health and construction efficiency. It recommends (i) stricter enforcement of personal hearing protection, (ii) engineering controls such as silencers and acoustic barriers, and (iii) continuous training and awareness programs to improve protective behaviours.

Key words: Occupational noise, productivity, hearing health, construction workers, AbujaOccupational noise, productivity, hearing health, construction workers, Abuja