Can noise affect workers’ productivity and accuracy?

Loud noise levels in the offshore oil industry torment workers with hearing damage and tinnitus.

Many workplaces have noise levels that are too loud for the human ear. In the long term, a loud working environment can consequently be damaging to your hearing health, therefore it affects workers’ productivity and accuracy.

Offshore oil rigs and platforms are examples of such noisy workplaces. In 2001, more than 800 workers in Norway reported hearing damage or tinnitus as a result of their line of work.

A study from 2009-2011 by PSA, the Petroleum Safety Authority of Norway, shows that 37% of workers in offshore oil productions are affected by damage to their hearing.

The importance of prevention

The National Association of Hearing Impaired in Norway, HLF, underlines the importance of hearing damage prevention and suggests lowering the noise level through usage of acoustic enclosures and silencers.

Organizations need to carefully think about the design of their workplace and how to manage noise levels. The negative effects of noise on employees can have financial impacts comparable with the positive impact of investing in acoustic improvements. Therefore, it makes good business sense to invest.

The impact of noise on performance

The British Journal of Psychology published a study that asked workers to perform two tasks, firstly tested without noise and then with a recording of general noise. The test with noise showed a decrease in the accuracy of their work by almost 67%. This test was made introducing noise at levels there are very low compared to offshore plants’ noise, it’s logic to predict that this percentage would increase when speaking of high-noise environments such as power generation plant or offshore platform.

Noise is very stressful and it can leave workers physically and mentally shaken. Prolonged exposure to loud noises can trigger physiologic stress responses in our bodies, including high blood pressure and an increased heart rate.

Studies show that workers are almost 65% less productive in a noisy work environment than employees who work in much quieter workplaces.

Moreover, HLF underlines that a person with reduced hearing is more likely to become physically exhausted at the end of a workday.

Acoustic solutions to mitigate noise

Stopson Italiana has been present for decades in the world market of soundproofing as one of the leading producers of acoustic enclosure, control cabins, and silencers.

Soundproofing solutions reduce noise pollution due to various sources and efficiently respond to any client’s needs.

• SILENCERS
  Absorptive for cold and hot gases, reactive for engines or small boilers exhaust, combined absorptive and reactive for venting systems. Circular or rectangular shape, atmospheric or pressurized for any gas, temperature range, and applications, providing sound attenuation up to 70 dB and reduce residual noise to a sustainable level.
• BARRIERS & ENCLOSURES
  Shaped around noisy equipment, indoor or outdoor, on-base or off-base, designed to provide optimum noise attenuation in any critical environment. Made of modular acoustic panels and linings for sound isolation while ensuring equipment maintenance, ventilation, weather protection, and fire safety.

On-Site tests to make facilities/plants compliant

Together with its soundproofing products, Stopson Italiana provides on-site services making sure to fulfill the customer needs and meet the highest quality standards.

⟶ For More Information about Stopson Italiana soundproofing solutions click HERE