According to the JNA association, “noise pollution should be regulated in all professional sectors”.
- Noise at work is a toxic factor for human beings.
- Many professional sectors generate noise pollution.
- The JNA association is campaigning for better management of this problem.
“To preserve the health and safety of workers, noise exposure must now be regulated in all professional sectors”. On the occasion of World Day for Safety at Work, the JNA patient association (National Hearing Day) is campaigning for greater action on the impact of noise at work.
Noise at work: a toxic factor for humans
“The JNA association recalls that noise at work is a toxic factor for human beings” can we read in a press release. “It impacts the health of workers both through its extra-auditory effects (stress, fatigue, hormonal imbalance, hypertension, difficulty understanding speech, etc.) and auditory (deafness, tinnitus and other hearing disorders)”, explain the activists.
In France, 1,000 occupational deafness due to noise accidents are still counted by the Health Insurance each year. Six out of ten employees in the commercial sector also say they are bothered daily by noise, a phenomenon that is found in the fields of agriculture, industry and construction.
Noise also modifies the quality of social relations, generating misunderstandings with local management for one out of two working people, aggressiveness in exchanges for 45% of workers and conflicts within teams for 41% of employees.
Noise costs 57 billion euros
“The impacts of noise annoyance are not quantified because they are not considered as a comorbidity factor”, laments the association. “An ADEME study published in July 2021 nevertheless estimated the social cost of noise at 57 billion euros”she recalls.
During the 8th national campaign for hearing health at work, which will be held from October 16 to 22, 2023, the JNA association will therefore invite companies and public authorities to question themselves on the definition of working conditions. “sustainable work”, “are those respecting the physical and mental integrity of employees”, conclude the activists.
