Summary:
Industrial noise is one of the most pervasive physical hazards in working environments and poses significant risks to occupational health, safety, and worker performance. Beyond sound pressure levels, the continuity, variability, and duration of noise exposure play a decisive role in shaping sector-specific risk profiles. In this study, field noise measurements were conducted in construction sites, ready-mixed concrete plants, and food production facilities to determine spatial and temporal noise characteristics. The measurement results revealed that construction sites are dominated by highly fluctuating noise with sudden high-intensity peaks, while ready-mixed concrete plants exhibit persistently high and continuous noise levels driven by fixed production equipment. Food production facilities generally showed lower noise levels; however, enclosed spaces and reverberation effects resulted in sustained background noise exposure. The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) results demonstrated that construction sites ranked highest in overall noise risk, followed by ready-mixed concrete plants and food production facilities. Average noise level, daily exposure duration, and the number of machines operating simultaneously emerged as the most influential criteria, whereas awareness-based measures and personal protective equipment had comparatively lower weights. These findings indicate that physical and organizational factors dominate noise-related risk over behavioral controls. From a safety culture perspective, the frequent occurrence of high maximum noise levels suggests a predominantly reactive approach to noise management, with reliance on personal protective equipment rather than preventive engineering and organizational controls. Strengthening safety culture requires integrating noise risk into proactive planning, worker participation, and management commitment across all sectors. Overall, this study highlights the value of combining noise mapping with multi-criteria decision-making methods to support sector-specific and evidence-based industrial noise management within the framework of occupational health and safety.