Noise is one of the invisible hazards of the workplace or any environment. Excessive noise can harm employees’ physical and mental health, lower productivity, and create a dangerous workplace. The noise control impact on employees mitigates some of these challenges. Singer Safety Company’s noise control systems provide a range of benefits to employees and the workplace.
What is Noise?
Noise refers to any unwanted or undesirable sound, signal, or interference that disrupts communication, affects clarity, or degrades the quality of information. Excessive noise refers to a level of noise that surpasses what is considered acceptable or tolerable in a particular environment or situation. What can be considered excessive depends on the location, context, time, and personal levels of noise sensitivity. However, prolonged exposure to any noise measuring over 85 decibels is considered harmful, and noise measuring over 140 decibels can cause instant damage. For reference, a lawn mower is around 90 decibels, and a rock concert is around 110 decibels.
Noise Control Impacts on Employees
Noise control systems, such as Singer Safety’s Sound Stopper Noise Control System greatly impact employees and their work environments. Installing a noise control system prevents or limits problems including hearing loss, stress, lower cognitive function, and safety hazards, and ensures workplaces maintain regulatory compliance.
Hearing Loss
Approximately 25% of all American workers are exposed to excessive noise, and over half of them report not wearing hearing protection. 12% of all workers have hearing difficulties, with 20% of noise-exposed workers having a hearing impairment that impacts daily life. Hearing loss doesn’t just impact audio processing, it can impact other aspects of health and wellness. Individuals with hearing loss are at risk for social isolation and depression. Plus, hearing issues can also negatively impact balance, leading to more trips and falls.
Stress
Excessive noise is a significant source of stress. In any work environment, an increase in stress levels increases the risk of accidents and injuries and negatively impacts employees’ mental and physical health. Loud noises can trigger the body’s stress responses, increasing heart rate, blood pressure, and muscle tension. An increase in stress levels caused by excessive noise can lead to sleep disruptions, increased irritability, and aggression. A stressful work environment leads to decreased employee morale, increased absenteeism, and higher turnover. Plus, stressful environments mean a higher risk of mistakes being made, resulting in lower-quality work and lower productivity.
Cognitive Ability
Trying to focus with excessive noise is a challenge. Noise impacts cognitive ability beyond concentration issues. Trying to filter out noise lowers cognitive capacity and can lead to cognitive fatigue, slower reaction times, and more errors. Noise can even impair long—and short-term memory. In an environment, such as a construction site, where verbal communication is critical, background noise can make it challenging to share information and send messages, opening the possibilities for miscommunication and misunderstandings.
Safety
Excessive noise is a workplace safety concern, and not just because of the risk of hearing loss. Noise creates safety risks in addition to the risks noise-induced stress and cognitive impairment create in the workplace. Noise can mask or cover safety signals including alarms, machine alerts, or even a verbal warning of “Hey, watch out!”
Regulatory Compliance
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulates noise levels in workplaces. When noise exposure is over 85 decibels over an 8-hour working period, noise control systems and personal protective gear, such as earmuffs, are required. Limiting exposure, isolating sources of noise, muffling sounds, and using protective gear are all examples of how noise control can improve the workplace.
How Noise Control Can Improve the Workplace
Noise control’s impact on employees and the overall work environment improves safety, productivity, and employee health and well-being. Reduced noise leads to easier communication, lower stress levels, and fewer concentration issues.
Lower Risk of Injury and Accident
One of the biggest impacts of noise control on employees is improved safety and lower risk of accident or injury. When noise control systems are in place, communication improves while distractions, stress, and fatigue decrease.
Improve Employee Morale
Reducing workplace noise creates a calmer and more relaxed environment. This environment promotes mental health among workers and improves the quality of sleep and cognitive function. A comfortable and productive work environment is crucial for employee satisfaction and retention. Reducing noise means overall improvements to employee health and attitude, as well as improved morale and retention.
Increase Productivity
Noise control systems are a smart economic investment. They improve the overall workplace and lead to increased productivity and quality of work. Lowering concentration issues helps increase efficiency and lower the number of mistakes. Creating an environment that allows employees to easily focus on their tasks with minimal stress levels leads to increased productivity and more efficiency in the workplace.
Singer Safety Systems Noise Control
There are lots of ways in which noise control can improve the workplace. Singer Safety Company is the leader in noise control systems and products. Singer Safety Company is an innovator and pioneer in the workplace safety industry. Our noise control systems include modular acoustic screens, single or double-faced quilted fiberglass panels, ceiling baffles, acoustic foams, and other DIY noise control materials. Our products aim to insulate, absorb, and overall reduce the impact of noise. With these industrial noise control products, you can enjoy all the benefits of lasting noise reduction and control.