Learn more about Noise Safety.

Why is noise an important workplace hazard?

Noise is one of the most common occupational health hazards. In heavy industrial and manufacturing environments, as well as other situations such as farms, cafeterias, or bars. Permanent hearing loss is the main health concern. Annoyance, stress and interference with speech communication are the main concerns in noisy offices, schools and computer rooms. To prevent adverse outcomes of noise exposure, noise levels should be reduced to acceptable levels. The best method of noise reduction is to use engineering modifications to the noise source itself, or to the workplace environment. Where technology cannot adequately control the problem, personal hearing protection (such as ear muffs or plugs) can be used. Personal protection, however, should be considered as an interim measure while other means of reducing workplace noise are being explored and implemented. As a first step in dealing with noise, workplaces need to identify areas or operations where excessive exposure to noise occurs

How can I tell if my workplace is too loud?

If you answer yes to any of the following questions, the workplace may have a noise problem.

• Do people have to raise their voices?

• Do people who work in noisy environments have ringing in their ears at the end of a shift?

• Do they find when they return home from work that they have to increase the volume on their car radio higher than they did when they went to work?

• Does a person who has worked in a noisy workplace for years have problems understanding conversations at parties, or restaurants, or in crowds where there are many voices and "competing" noises?

If there is a noise problem in a workplace, then a noise assessment or survey should be undertaken to determine the sources of noise, the amount of noise, who is exposed and for how long.

What are some properties of noise that can be measured?

The properties of noise which are important in the workplace are:

• frequency

• sound pressure

• sound power

• time distribution

What are noise level thresholds?

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