Noise at work can cause many illnesses, warns a new survey.
- Depression, tinnitus, hypertension, stress, sleep problems… Too much noise at work can cause many illnesses.
- The most annoying sources of hearing in the French workplace are noise coming from outside the premises and conversations between colleagues.
- “Faced with the confirmation of trends recorded since post-covid, the scientific and medical experts of the association call on economic and social actors to integrate these analyzes of the impacts of noise and to quickly change their approach,” writes the JNA in a press release.
According to a new investigation produced by Ifop and the JNA association, many health problems are caused by excessively high noise levels at work.
Noise at work: what are the most linked diseases?
At the question : “In your opinion, do noise and acoustic pollution in your workplace have repercussions on your daily life in terms of…?” 60% of respondents answered fatigue, 50% stress, 32% sleep disorders, 31% anxiety and depression, 30% tinnitus, 25% deafness and 23% high blood pressure.
Noise pollution in their workplace also pushed 53% of those questioned to consider or carry out a hearing test, 51% to consult a doctor (general practitioner, occupational or ENT), 51% to request personal protective equipment against noise on the professional site (helmet, cap) and 30% to request a work stoppage.
Noise at work: what are the most annoying sources?
The survey also lists the most annoying hearing sources in the workplace, namely noise coming from outside the premises (for 34% of respondents), conversations between colleagues (31%), materials used such as computers or printers (24%), comings and goings (28%) and finally telephone or video conference conversations (25%).
“The solutions proposed by the employer against noise are currently considered insufficient”
“26% of teleworkers 2 to 3 days a week are bothered by noise even though they have little exposure. This observation can be interpreted as a difficulty in having to alternate between different sound environments and a risk that this perception goes unnoticed by employers. can also be read in the report. “Many 18-24 year olds are exposed to noise without being bothered (18% versus 9%), which indicates that this generation does not take this issue seriously.” also underline the authors of the survey.
“Faced with the confirmation of trends recorded since post-covid, the scientific and medical experts of the association call on economic and social actors to integrate these analyzes of the impacts of noise and to quickly change their approach”, writing the JNA in a press release. “Indeed, the solutions proposed by the employer against noise are currently considered insufficient. Although they seem to be progressing in the industrial and construction sectors, their implementation remains largely in the minority”, add the activists.
