Industrial Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, at Islamic University of Gaza (IUG), held a seminar entitled: “Noise Pollution: Causes, Effects, Control” in the presence of Dr. Sanaa Saleh – Deputy Dean of Faculty of Engineering, Dr. Sadiq Abdel-Aal – Head of Industrial Engineering Department, Dr. Talaat Abu Maileq – Director General of Security and Inspection at the Ministry of Labor, and a group of engineers, specialists, and students of the department.
Opening Session
Dr. Saleh indicated that IUG partnership with institutions and ministries aims at enhancing prospects for cooperation to serve students and develop their academic capabilities in the area of noise pollution and its control. She called on students to seize all opportunities of meetings, workshops, and seminars to raise their scientific level and gain useful experiences.
Dr. Abu Maileq noted that the Ministry of Labor is the official body concerned with manpower in terms of rehabilitating, training and creating job opportunities, and providing a decent and safe work environment for workers through public administrations, the most important of which is the inspection and protection of work. The goal of the ministry is to make labor legislation obtainable and monitor its applications on involved parties of work concerning safety, occupational health, and working conditions in economic establishments.
Dr. Abu Maaliq pointed out that the ministry conducts inspections and field studies to determine and analyze occupational risks and their causes. This is in addition to all procedures related to work injuries resulting from such risks. He indicated that the ministry paid considerable attention to prevent workers from being exposed to high levels of noise by imposing laws and legislation to preserve their health.
Dr. Abdel-Aal stressed that the Industrial Engineering Department has designs for industrial facilities that reduce noise on workers and have a better effect than preventive measures. That can be attained through optimal investment of resources and preserving human element source. He pointed out that the Gaza Strip suffers hugely from noise pollution due to the density of population and industrial establishments adjacent to the houses of citizens.
First Session
Regarding the first scientific session, Dr. Ahmed Judeh – an international expert in occupational health and safety, talked about “noise”, and Dr. Gabr Abu Amr – Head of Audiology Department at Al-Shifa Hospital, reviewed noise physiology, and Ms. Basma Salah – Head of Audiology Department at Hamad Hospital, addressed audiometry and headphones “their types and uses in Gaza”
Second Session
As for the second scientific session, Eng. Omar Al-Hasaineh spoke about protection from noise, and Mr. Ali Al-Jerjawi – a lawyer from Democracy and Workers’ Rights Center, referred to noise and the Palestinian Labor Law in terms of the rights and duties of “workers and employers”, and Mr. Muhammad Ayyad – an insurance and accident expert from The Office of Insurance Consultants, addressed the nature of insurance, compensation and noise, and Ms. Manar Abu Samra – Coordinator of Health Departments at Gaza Training Community College UNRWA, discussed the “noise control”.